The Artistic Soul of Tuscany: A Guide to the La Serena Artist Residency Program

At La Serena, a five-star boutique hotel in Forte dei Marmi, the artist residency program offers visual artists an immersive spring–summer stay with a dedicated studio, a gallery-like hotel setting and direct inspiration from the Tuscan coast. This guide walks you through how the program works, who it is for, and how to plan a creative stay in Tuscany.

An artist residency on Tuscany’s cultural riviera

Forte dei Marmi sits on the northern Tuscan coast, between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apuan Alps, known for pine groves, elegant beach clubs and a long-standing appeal to artists and writers. La Serena occupies a quiet residential address just a short distance from the beach, conceived as an intimate, design-led retreat rather than a large resort.

Art is woven into the hotel’s identity: contemporary works are displayed in corridors, lounges, selected rooms and within the Mediterranean garden by the pool. Guests live with the works rather than merely visit a separate gallery. The artist residency is the natural extension of this approach, turning the property into a living, evolving exhibition throughout the season.

Who the La Serena Artist Residency is for

La Serena’s artist residency focuses on visual artists who want to devote several weeks to their practice within a structured yet intimate setting. The program, launched in 2024, is scheduled between April and August, when the light, garden and seaside atmosphere are at their most compelling.

Residents are provided with a dedicated studio space on or adjacent to the property, time to work without distraction and direct access to the hotel and its grounds. The aim is not only to “produce” but to enter into a dialogue with the place: the villa, the garden, the pine trees, the changing light and the rhythm of Forte dei Marmi.

Artists associated with the residency – including Nasser Almulhim, Pippa El-Kadhi Brown, Ziad Al Najjar and Samo Shalaby – reflect a strong emphasis on colour, abstraction, memory and inner landscapes. At the same time, the program is not limited to one style; it values distinct, thoughtful practices over a single aesthetic trend.

Inside the residency season: April to August

According to the hotel, the residency season runs from spring into late summer, with the program scheduled between April and August. During this period, each artist develops a body of work informed by La Serena, Forte dei Marmi and the wider Tuscan context.

Key elements of a typical residency include periods of focused studio time, the integration of finished works within the hotel’s public spaces, and selected open-studio moments where guests may see work in progress and meet the artists, subject to their schedule. This creates a porous boundary between the private act of creation and the shared experience of art.

Beyond the hotel itself, residents can easily reach Pietrasanta and its galleries, the marble quarries of Carrara, and cities such as Lucca, Pisa and Florence, all manageable as day trips and rich in artistic references that often feed back into the work produced on site.

Living and working inside a gallery-hotel

Staying and working at La Serena means inhabiting a contemporary villa rather than a standard hotel. The property keeps a boutique scale, with design-led interiors, natural materials and Carrara marble bathrooms. At its centre lies a Mediterranean garden with an outdoor pool, shaded seating and sculptural pieces.

For artists, this translates into bright interior spaces for reading and sketching, a garden where the light shifts throughout the day, and a calm atmosphere that favours concentration. Between studio sessions, one can walk or cycle to the beach, wander through Forte dei Marmi or explore nearby cultural sites without breaking the creative mindset.

La Serena also collaborates with contemporary art galleries, supporting a rotating programme of exhibitions and residencies that keeps the visual landscape of the hotel in constant evolution.

How to enquire and plan your stay

For any questions regarding the artist residency – including interest in future editions – La Serena provides a dedicated contact form linked from the “Artist Residency / Residenza d’artista” page on the official website.

Before reaching out, it is helpful to:

• review the residency page for current-season dates and details;
  
  
• prepare a concise portfolio highlighting recent series and exhibitions;
  
  
• write a short project statement explaining what you hope to explore at La Serena and how the location might inform your work;
  
  
• outline any practical needs related to your practice, such as materials, scale or access to local workshops and foundries.
  
  

From a logistics perspective, most guests arrive via Pisa or Florence and continue to Forte dei Marmi by car or transfer. Once in town, complimentary hotel bicycles and curated excursions make it easy to balance studio time with exploration of the region.

Key Facts – La Serena Artist Residency Program

• Five-star boutique hotel in Forte dei Marmi on the Tuscan coast, with a strong focus on contemporary art.
  
  
• Artist residency launched in 2024 and scheduled between April and August.
  
  
• Designed for visual artists seeking studio space, time and immersion in a gallery-like hotel environment.
  
  
• Residents create new works on site, exhibit them within the hotel and may host open studios for guests.
  
  
• Mediterranean garden and outdoor pool provide a calm core to the property, ideal for reflection.
  
  
• Day-trip access to Pietrasanta, Carrara, Pisa, Lucca and Florence for additional artistic inspiration.
  
  
• Dedicated artist enquiry form available via the official Artist Residency page.
  
  

FAQ – La Serena Artist Residency

Where is the La Serena Artist Residency located?
The residency takes place at La Serena, a five-star boutique hotel in Forte dei Marmi, Tuscany, a short distance from the beach and the town’s tree-lined avenues.

When does the residency program run?
The program was launched in 2024 and is scheduled between April and August. Specific dates and formats may change from season to season, so artists should always refer to the latest information published by the hotel.

What kind of artists is the program aimed at?
It is primarily aimed at visual artists with an established or emerging practice who wish to deepen their work within an intimate, design-forward setting strongly connected to the Tuscan landscape and cultural scene.

Can hotel guests meet the artists in residence?
During the residency season, artists work on site and may open their studios or present new works to guests at selected times, depending on their schedules and the hotel’s programming.

How can I apply or express interest in a future residency?
Artists can use the dedicated enquiry form on the Artist Residency page or contact the hotel directly. Including a portfolio, short biography and project outline will help the team understand your practice and how it might fit the residency framework.