Artist-in-Residence – Marie-Clare Treseder Gorham:

Cities often inspire art. Anyone who's been to cities like Paris, Rome, or Prague, however, knows that some cities also are art. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, is one such city. It's no surprise, then, that its home to a thriving community of artists — a fact that's celebrated front and center at The Hofsas House Hotel.

Marie-Clare Treseder Gorham, a Carmel-based folk artist, whose distinctive aesthetic incorporates medieval themes and iconography, rooted within the ethos of the California Arts & Crafts movement. Her hand-painted murals can be found throughout town, notably the Carmel Shell across from Devendorff Park at the corner of Sixth and Mission. Her other murals can be found at the main branch of the Carmel Library and inside the Café Carmel.

During the pandemic, Hofsas House commissioned her to touch up the colors of the welcoming Maxine Albro mural. Working with Marie-Clare was such a delight that we instituted the Artist-in-Residence program that led to the first project of creating a custom headboard for Room 36. This deluxe king room with fireplace, private balcony and ocean view is on the street level of San Carlos Street, the same floor as the hotel’s lobby. She also painted a few characters on the entrance door that will highlight the unique nature of the room.

Headboard Details:

 • Custom built by local carpenter Gary Doubledee, and hand-painted by artist-in-residence Marie-Clare Treseder Gorham,
   this unique headboard offers a quintessentially Carmel backdrop for your stay at Hofsas House.

 • Inspired by the twin headboards painted by artist Maxine Albro in 1947, this headboard pays homage to both the
   scalloped silhouette of the original, and the palette of her original Hofsas House mural.

 • Using traditional hand-painting techniques, particularly the German folk style "bauernmalerei," Gorham designed
   and painted this piece as a celebration of the Hofsas House Hotel, and its characteristic art history.

Her next project was a new mural highlighting the family crest created by founder Fred Hofsas and incorporating the birds from the Maxine Albro mural. It is located above the ramp leading to the first level of rooms by the pool.We are very excited to add another artistic touch to the hotel.