It seemed like such a brilliant combination: high traffic, high rollers and high art. But 12 years after Steve Wynn opened the Bellagio with a very expensive collection of Impressionist and Modern paintings, art is taking a beating in Las Vegas. Wynn himself carelessly put a hole in a Picasso while showing it off at another Vegas casino four years ago. Now it seems the rest of the world who comes to Vegas thinks art is there for the trashing. Here’s the Las Vegas Weekly who observed:

Just take a gander at what is and isn’t on the floor of the newly christened Cosmopolitan. Objects d’art on display opening week were removed shortly after for repair. The Roark Gourley high-gloss 9-foot stiletto shoes on the second-floor promenade are nicked and chipped, possibly by photo-snapping tourists lost in a Disneyland moment, some of whom crawled into the insole for a more enveloping big-shoe experience. […]

Speaking of art on the Strip: We’re still wondering what happened to that Julian Schnabel suite of Christopher Walken photographs outside the Deuce bar at Aria. A bouncer reportedly told guests that one of the photographs was damaged by a reveler and removed, but an Aria publicist has not responded to requests for comment.

Vegas Vistors Disrespect and Even Damage Art in Our Hotels (Las Vegas Weekly)