A vehicle that has had its appearance modified to express the owner’s or company’s artistic expression, is referred to as an art car. Usually, the car used is an old or used vehicle which needs repairs. Instead of transforming the inside of the vehicle, the owner has the exterior of the vehicle radically altered. Surprisingly, many art cars are made by ordinary people and are often driven and owned by their creator.
The artist creates the design on the car by either adding or subtracting materials of his or the owner’s choosing. They may also renovate an earlier model to revive a beauty and style that once was. The end result is a vehicle which conveys new meaning through design, mechanical or structural changes, renovation and/or the addition of new images, symbols or other elements.
One of the earliest examples of the Art Car movement is Sonia Delaunay’s Citroën B12 which she designed in 1925 with bold, geometric paintwork.
The artist creates the design on the car by either adding or subtracting materials of his or the owner’s choosing. They may also renovate an earlier model to revive a beauty and style that once was. The end result is a vehicle which conveys new meaning through design, mechanical or structural changes, renovation and/or the addition of new images, symbols or other elements.
One of the earliest examples of the Art Car movement is Sonia Delaunay’s Citroën B12 which she designed in 1925 with bold, geometric paintwork.
The origins of the 'art car'
The art car as a creative expression began after World War II. The trend has evolved over the past fifty years into a phenomenon. The cars became popular in the 20th century when people started to use them for commercial advertisements. The Oscar Meier Weiner Wagon was a vehicle that was transformed to look like a hotdog. Not too long after this the art car culture started expanding all over the United States and other countries. The overall appeal of the art car appears to be the act of personal artistic expression and artists have said driving the art car they created is a gratifying reward.
The art car subculture began with the influence of the hippie-themed VWs of the late 1960s, the lowrider, as well as a Merry Pranksters' creation, the decorated school bus known as Furthur.
The art car subculture began with the influence of the hippie-themed VWs of the late 1960s, the lowrider, as well as a Merry Pranksters' creation, the decorated school bus known as Furthur.
1. Famous examples
The most notable art cars in the late 1960s and 1970s were:
Janis Joplin - Porsche 356
Singer Janis Joplin had a psychedelically-painted Porsche 356
John Lennon - Rolls Royce Phantom V
John Lennon - a paisley Rolls Royce
Painted Volkswagen Buses
Escape From New York - 1977 Caddilac Fleetwood
1977 Cadillac Fleetwood seen in the film Escape from New York
Art cars from the 90's until now
In the 1990s an art car community began to evolve inspired by movies and books, and the development of innovative art display venues such as Burning Man. One of the main forces behind this is filmmaker and art car artist Harrod Blank, who created the art car documentaries Wild Wheels (1992), Driving the Dream (1998) and Automorphosis (2009).
Blank, who also published two books: Wild Wheels and Art Cars: the cars, the artists, the obsession, the craft, co-founded with Philo Northrup the U.S.'s second largest art car festival in the San Francisco Bay Area: Art Car Fest.
The art car culture, which was once strongest throughout Texas and the Southeast, now extends throughout the United States. Events showcasing art cars can be found in many major cities and small towns. Art cars have become popular throughout the world.
Art cars are an expression of the artistic need to create and the inspiration for their designs often come from popular culture or a need for artists to express their individual ideas and visions. The works of art can range from imaginatively painted vehicles to extravagant fantasies.
Definitely the most prolific are BMW’s art cars, the subject of our next post!
Blank, who also published two books: Wild Wheels and Art Cars: the cars, the artists, the obsession, the craft, co-founded with Philo Northrup the U.S.'s second largest art car festival in the San Francisco Bay Area: Art Car Fest.
The art car culture, which was once strongest throughout Texas and the Southeast, now extends throughout the United States. Events showcasing art cars can be found in many major cities and small towns. Art cars have become popular throughout the world.
Art cars are an expression of the artistic need to create and the inspiration for their designs often come from popular culture or a need for artists to express their individual ideas and visions. The works of art can range from imaginatively painted vehicles to extravagant fantasies.
Definitely the most prolific are BMW’s art cars, the subject of our next post!
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