Parked in the Norton Museum of Art’s Maurer Lobby is its latest exhibition piece: Special Guest: Calder BMW Art Car.
An installation view of Special Guest: Calder BMW Art Car in the Norton’s Gilbert and Ann Maurer Auditorium Lobby
The Norton Museum of Art swerves onto the scene with Special Guest: Calder BMW Art Car, the North American institutional debut of the “Calder BMW Art Car” (Artist’s Proof, 1975/2021), from now until April 24. Following Calder: Dimensions—an Alexander Calder exhibition boasting mobiles, paintings, works on paper and jewelry between the 1940s and 1970s—this exhibit takes on a similarly dynamic approach to his artwork, giving his audience a glimpse into the driver’s seat.
In 1974, French auctioneer and race car driver Hervé Poulain commissioned American artist Alexander Calder to paint a BMW race car, and one year later the collaborative race car broke art barriers, boasting dynamic forms in bold colors (think baby blue, bright red and classic yellow) across the car’s wings, bonnet and roof that pay homage to the artist’s earlier mobiles, stabiles and two-dimensional works. Now, to capture the kinetic work of art that Calder intended, the BMW Group Classic for the Calder Foundation—alongside key players of the original project, including Poulain and technical partner Walter Maurer—created the “Calder BMW Art Car” (Artist’s Proof) from a 1974 BMW 3.0 CSL. “We are thrilled to be the first institutional venue in North America to showcase this dynamic installation by a great talent, Alexander Calder,” says Norton Director and CEO Ghislain d’Humières. “This multifaceted artist realized his dream of creating the first BMW Art Car that operates as a kinetic work of art. The Calder Art Car is part of our Special Guest exhibition series at the Norton that provides visitors with the opportunity to see extraordinary works of art that often are not accessible to the public.”
Want more of the Norton Museum of Art? Look out for a variety of exhilarating exhibitions throughout the year. The current exhibit, From Hassam to Wyeth: Gifts From Doris and Shouky Shaheen, celebrates a recent gift of American oils and watercolors. Icons of 19th and 20th century art, from O’Keeffe to Warhol, will also be on view, showcasing important private collections that highlight the forthcoming season including the collection of Howard and Judie Ganek and the Fisher Landau family collection, alongside a show of works on paper by Rembrandt, Dürer, and Picasso that focus on their printmaking practices. 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, 561.832.5196
Photography by: PHOTO BY ASHLEY KERR
