Hôtel Magique x Hotel BonSol: Artist Residency Recap
During the judging phase of the Call for Artists, I noticed how instantly curious I was after reviewing Bradley Wood’s and Nicole Nelius’s entries and their accompanying emails. I wondered what would stand out for them at Hotel BonSol — which details they would notice, what work they would create, and whether they would feel the same sense of magique I felt at Hotel BonSol and after meeting Natalia Xamena. A family-run hotel and team that feels special, warm, and welcoming — a feeling some of the most beautifully designed hotels can’t even get close to.
And they did. And it shows. In the works they created during their residency, in their exhibition Postcards From A Daydream, and in the recap letters they shared with us.
Thank you, Natalia and everyone at Hotel BonSol, for opening your doors and hearts to this experience. And thank you, Nicole and Bradley, for sharing your magique with us.
Photography by Mónica Matanza.
Bradley Wood
Walking into the Bonsol Hotel felt like stepping into my own personal artist edition of White Lotus — minus the murder, plus a lot more self-reflection.
The soundtrack in my head began the moment I stepped onto the grounds. That first week, I was completely absorbed by the old-school charm, the lush vegetation, the ever-changing light. I went to bed physically exhausted each night, simply from absorbing every detail I might use one day in a painting. I drew constantly — my visual diary of this strange, beautiful new world.
And the hotel staff…honestly, I fell in love with them all. Warm, friendly, genuinely happy humans who always seemed delighted to run into each other (and me) on the grounds. I made small drawings and portraits of as many as I could and gave them away. I wish I could’ve drawn everyone.
Every morning I woke up to a window filled with tropical green and that impossible Mediterranean color peeking through. My mind would immediately start racing — what can I do today so I don’t miss anything?
The five-week structure was perfect. It took me about a week to acclimate, and then everything clicked.
Sharing the residency with Nicki was also a gift. Our studios were bright and spacious; we got along so well; and her bold color choices definitely rubbed off on me in the best ways. It was nice to have someone to confide in — about painting, about residency happenings, about everything.
I walked away from Mallorca with so many drawings, references, and ideas for future paintings. But more importantly, I left with a sense of creative renewal I didn’t realize I needed so badly. I did everything I set out to do — and so much more.
In summary: It was magic.
Left: Lunch at Bonsol by Bradley Wood. Right: Don Martin by Bradley Wood.
There were extraordinary moments I never expected — and then there was life on the island.
Nicole Nelius
My time at BonSol changed me, but I’ve realised now that actually, it found me. It felt less like discovering something new and more like remembering something I’d forgotten.
I often thought of it as a nest. Safe in this jungle oasis, I was fed, nurtured, and left to grow. The birds were always chirping. Perched above the scattered, frenetic energy of everyday life, I felt a quiet knowing that I could fly — like in those dreams where you suddenly remember you’ve always been able to.
The energy, combined with the undeniable life force of BonSol itself, left us charged and buzzing.
Not one thing about this experience was as I imagined it might be. It was all beyond my expectations - every unexpected moment felt safe, generous, and full of beautiful life lessons. At BonSol I felt wide open and bold and it met me with exactly what I needed.
What surprised me most was the joy — the laughter, the lightness, the giddy energy that seemed to ripple through everything we did. I wasn’t expecting to laugh so much, to feel that kind of uncomplicated happiness. We were invited to be ourselves and it felt so free and sometimes silly in the best possible way.
This perfectly curated meeting of time, people, and place will never exist in quite the same way again and neither will I.
Not a day has passed since I’ve been home that I haven’t tried to find, somewhere inside me, the stillness I knew in Mallorca.
Left: Miró's Pomegranates by Nicole Nelius. Right: Tres Hibiscus by Nicole Nelius.
Studio still life by Nicole Nelius.
Nicole Nelius in her studio during the residency.
Work in progress and sketch by Bradley Wood during the residency.
Left: Natalia by Bradley Wood. Right: Jose by Bradley Wood.
Left: Roca Marina by Bradley Wood. Right: 22,000. Steps by Bradley Wood during the exhibition Postcards From A Daydream — October 2025, Galeria Marimón, Palma, Mallorca.
Opening night of Postcards From a Daydream.
From left to right: Call for Artists judge Francisco Reus, artist Nicole Nelius, Natalia Xamena of Hotel BonSol and judge, artist Bradley Wood, and Biel Perelló — judge and director of Galeria Marimón.
