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person painting white lines on black background

point, shoot, click

During the 1980s and 90s, East London embarked on a thrilling creative renaissance. Lured here by the promise of cheap rents, a new generation of artists and photographers reclaimed the area’s abandoned factories and warehouses, repurposing them as studios for work and life. A unique, bohemian spirit has defined this patch of the city ever since.

We’re on a mission to keep this creative pulse alive in the neighbourhood, so it’s our pleasure to showcase a gallery’s worth of iconic British photography. This includes our permanent collection and rotating exhibitions in our reading room and mezzanine lounge space. Our bar and restaurant is decorated with black-and-white London street photography, taken by rising stars such as Amelia Shelbourne, Sabela Peinado, Brunel Johnson and Nico Froehlich.

If you’ve been inspired by the photography on display, you can create your own shots with our Photo Lab experience. Forget relying on your phone camera; here, we are reviving the art of point and shoot. Click away and capture your favourite Montcalm East moments – or venture further afield with a local shutterbug, who will help you with that money shot.

Creative Streak

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ACRYLICIZE

CARLOS PENALVER

HDBR

LISA KING

AMELIA SHELBOURNE

PROUD GALLERIES

RAVENSBOURNE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

SABELA PEINADO

BRUNEL JOHNSON

A IS FOR ART

More than just a hotel, Montcalm East is a creative hub, showcasing an array of London-made artworks, carefully curated by Culture A. Textured, collage-style prints hang in rooms and communal spaces: a tribute to the weathered, peeling street posters that decorate Shoreditch’s graffitied walls. Other highlights include a street-art-inspired textile by London-based print artist Lisa King, a large-scale, hand-painted illustrative mural by Hackney-resident, Carlos Penalver, and collaborations with partners such as Ravensbourne, University of London and Proud Gallery. Get the down-low on our artworks via nifty QR codes, which cameo as modern art labels. The cultural kicks continue in our erudite reading room, stocked with brilliant books from Hoxton Mini Press, plus a bunch of trendsetting city zines.

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Montcalm East, Photographer In Residence

Montcalm East are delighted to announce their latest photographer in residence, Lily-Rose Butterfield. The ongoing Photographer in Residence in collaboration with Ravensbourne University, provides emerging artists with full use of the permanent studio space to develop their portfolio and showcase their work whilst also hosting masterclasses for members of the public to develop different photography skills.

Lily-Rose joins the hotel after recently being asked to exhibit at The Other Art Fair by Saatchi Art, and brings an empathetic feminist voyeurism style of photography to East London. Lily-Rose has an all-consuming drive to create something tangible. Initially a painter, Lily-Rose’s journey has been varied but creative, having interned with couture fashion designers, glass blowing, and worked with a leather artist. They tried everything they could before being gifted a DSLR on their 17th birthday which ignited their love for photography was born. Fast forward to the present day and now their work focuses on broader societal and social issues outside of their own identities using fashion, dramatic landscapes, and colour as visual language.

Lily-Rose will be hosting two workshops that teach budding photographers essential techniques, followed by an exhibition of their own work in the summer. Lily-Rose will be focused on creating and expanding their fine art and fashion photo practice, working with other fantastic London creatives, teaching and speaking about the work they're passionate about as a young female presenting artist.

To find out more about their masterclasses click the button below. For more information on the drop in session, you can contact our team on hello@montcalmeast.com.

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