How One Artist's Car Trade Redefined Automotive Art and Iconic Status
Recently, a captivating art exhibit showcased the remarkable work of the late Jason Rhoades, an artist whose relationship with automobiles transcended mere ownership—transforming vehicles into living, breathing pieces of art. As I strolled out of a compelling exhibition featuring Jacob Lawrence at the DC Moore Gallery in Manhattan, I was drawn to an unusual sight at an adjacent art gallery: a yellow Fiero. Having a keen interest in the history of this iconic mid-engine car, I could quickly tell this wasn’t the ordinary Fiero. It turned out that it was a notchback model from 1984, yet it perplexingly carried a striking yellow hue only made available in 1988. Curiosity piqued, I ventured inside to uncover the spectacle that awaited me.
Jason Rhoades: The Artist Behind the Wheel
As I discovered, the Hauser & Wirth Gallery on West 22nd Street in New York was entirely dedicated to Rhoades and his innovative art centered around cars. The artist, who tragically passed away at 41 in 2006, was a visionary who harnessed the automobile’s cultural power to craft new forms of artistic expression. “For Jason, the car was a vehicle for making art and creating new sculptures,” noted Ingrid Schaffner, the gallery's senior curatorial director, offering a glimpse into Rhoades’s unique perspective.
Intrigued observers learned that Rhoades understood cars as more than just machines; they served as powerful metaphors. His final MFA project at UCLA is a prime example—he literally raced a toy Ferrari around a cardboard track while dressed in a suit of his own creation, which aimed to highlight themes of competition and ambition. Rhoades’s projects often involved exhilaration and camaraderie, showcasing his deep-seated belief in the automobile as an art form in its own right.
Exploring Rhoades's Artistic Journey
At the heart of the New York exhibit, five distinct vehicles played crucial roles in Rhoades’s art, including the Fiero from his 1994 installment, “Swedish Erotica and Fiero Parts.” Each car was a manifestation of the story he was eager to share, intertwining the mundanity of daily American life with artistic notions. For instance, a white 1989 Liger Optima became an intimate social space for his 1997 work, “Conversation Car.” Each vehicle stood in testament to the elaborate narratives Rhoades constructed around them, showcasing their role as both tools and subjects of his work.
The Legendary Trade: Caprice for Ferrari
But perhaps one of the most intriguing stories surrounding Rhoades involves a classic trade. Rhoades once owned a 1992 Chevrolet Caprice Classic, a piece he showcased in a French exhibition titled “Traffic.” After housing the Chevy as a valuable form of exhibit, he identified an opportunity with a notable collector, suggesting a trade for a stunning blue 1989 Ferrari 328 GTS. In a twist dictated by circumstance, the collector opted to keep the Caprice, further entwining the story of Rhoades's artistic journey with that of the prized Ferrari.
Rhoades was not just enamored with the car’s aesthetics; he understood the status it afforded him. As Schaffner articulated, “The Ferrari is a vehicle for ambition.” In the vibrant landscape of Los Angeles, where reputation often rides on the vehicles one drives, Rhoades reveled in the prestige that the Ferrari conferred, a statement of artistic ambition in a world often dominated by conventional tastes.
The Intersection of Art and Automobiles
Throughout history, the automobile has been recognized as an object worthy of artistic appreciation. The automobile's design holds a revered spot in the collections of esteemed museums, such as the Museum of Modern Art, reflecting changes in societal values and visions. Automotive design has particularly influenced early Modern art movements like Cubism and Futurism, with artists exploring themes of speed and perspective that aligned closely with the car’s transformative capabilities.
Rhoades's artistic ventures resonate with these movements, further pushing the boundaries of what constitutes art. He instinctively channeled this legacy, taking automotive design and deliberately converting it into art forms deserving their own narratives, acknowledging their unique stories. “Jason is kind of playing Duchamp at his own game,” Schaffner said, illustrating how Rhoades transformed the traditional conception of a car, exploring its profound cultural significance while toppling conventional boundaries.
The Route Ahead for Rhoades's Cars
As the exhibition demonstrated, however, the artistry of Rhoades’s vehicles is paradoxical—they are now static sculptures, stripped of their engine-driven essence. “You have to drain all their fluids” to display them safely within the gallery confines, Schaffner explained. Yet, the narrative does not end here; these cars maintain an ongoing artistic life, serving as reminders of Rhoades's innovative spirit and the potent role automobiles play within artistic discourse.
Visit the Exhibition
Rhoades’s cutting-edge work continues to inspire discussion on the intersection of art and automotive culture, inviting viewers to reconsider the status of the vehicle beyond mere transportation. To appreciate Rhoades's vision, be sure to check out his exhibit, “Drive II,” at Hauser & Wirth in New York. It is a wonderfully curated life that celebrates the dynamic, often intricate relationship between automobiles and art.