Cruising creativity: An Aspen hotel’s stunning ‘Art in Motion’ van art debut

Van Gogh? More like van wow! The Gant Aspen is set to unveil the debut of Rolling Canvas: Art in Motion, a collection of four vans covered in art that will be zipping around Aspen in 2025.

“Why does this van look like this? This is so awesome,” visual fine artist Kelly Peters said of the type of reaction she’s aiming for. “It’s so in your face.”

The first two vans will be seen roaming around town before the hotel reopens May 22 for the 2025 summer season.

The Gant’s mobile artist-in-residence program commissioned Whit Boucher, Nicholas Ward, Sarah Uhl, and Peters to transform vans into moving art installations.

“I’m excited to see one of the hotels really put focus on local artists,” Peters said. “There’s not really any other hotel doing that in Aspen.” 

The Gant celebrated its 50th (golden) anniversary in 2023 by introducing a fleet of gold-wrapped vans, which provide complimentary in-town and airport transportation, adding a festive and memorable touch to the resort. This led the vans to have another opportunity for a makeover once the year was through.

“We had to ask, ‘What’s next?'” Gant Sales and Marketing Director Lou Eppelsheimer said.

“This project was the natural answer, combining the need with our desire to do something more meaningful and locally connected,” added Eppelsheimer, who thought of the idea after seeing Uhl’s artwork on a notecard. 

The program asked artists to express what living in Roaring Fork Valley means to them. 

Peters sees her work as “vibrant, nature-inspired, and reflective.” She said the awe-inspiring beauty in the valley keeps her grounded.

“In the past, I’ve hand-painted vans, but I have never done the digital translation, so I was super excited about that,” Peters said, sharing that initially it was difficult to visualize, partly due to adapting the scale of her work. 

A former ski racer armed with an art degree, Peters is one of those people who came to Aspen for a season and stayed for a decade. Currently a Snowmass resident, Peters was thrilled at the prospect of having art on a van cruising around the mountain resorts.

“I wanted the painting to be super vibrant; I didn’t want to use neutral earth tones or anything,” Peters said of her van piece, which depicts Aspen Mountain. “I mean, come on, the psychedelic vans are fun.” 

When Boucher, also a visual artist, was asked to partake in the rolling van art, he said to himself, “Hell yeah — it’s a cool venue for art.” 

Boucher chose flowers for his piece, remarking, “I love drawing those species of flowers that you see way up high” above the alpine line. He spends most of his time skiing and mountain biking above the treeline.

“I’m fascinated by all of the foliage that grows way up high, how rugged they are, and how beautiful they are,” Boucher said, embracing the mountains as a never-ending source of ideas for his work.

Boucher sold out his debut gallery show in 2024. His next show will display a whole new body of work at the Aspen Collective on July 11.

“It’s been smooth and really easy working with Lou at The Gant,” Boucher said.

The vans’ new looks combine “travel, art, and community” to add a new dimension to Aspen’s cultural scene. 

“To me, the art on the van connects the local community with the tourists and everybody,” Peters said.

The vans will be shown to the public in a free special event, “Canvas and Cuisine” at 4 to 7 p.m. June 12 at Origin by the Farmer and Chef, an independent restaurant, located on The Gant property. 

Origin by The Farmer & Chef will unveil their seasonal summer menu to celebrate their one-year anniversary. It will feature food tastings, complimentary champagne and cocktails, and beats by Cisco Amboy. Plus, the opportunity to meet two of the featured artists in the Rolling Canvas program: Boucher and Peters.

“We’re expecting the first two vans next week, and we’re incredibly excited to see them out on the streets of Aspen,” Eppelsheimer said. “We can’t wait to share them with the community.”

For more information, visit: gantaspen.com/rolling-canvas/ or go to @GrantAspen on Facebook or Instagram.