Thibeault, Le Sauteur and Lafrance Etched Porsche Art Cars to be Featured Offerings at Russo and Steele Monterey!

By: Russo and Steele

Scottsdale, Arizona (July 6th, 2016) – Given its timeless and unique 'form follows function' styling, Porsche's evergreen 911 stands today as one of the finest expressions of automotive design. In short, its unique form is rightly considered to be true artwork that somehow manages to consistently defy time and space and remain relevant with each successive generation. In that vein, the Art Cars Project, a leading-edge collective or artists in cooperation with the Musée National des Beaux Arts du Québec (National Museum of Fine Arts of Quebec), traces its genesis to 2003 with a vision for the great Canadian artist Claude Le Sauteur to bring an old Italian coffee maker to life with inspiring artistry. While he was already occupied, the idea resurfaced when he received a formal proposition to elevate a green Porsche 911 into mobile artwork. After several months of reflection, Le Sauteur took on one of the finest projects of his career. The unique, painted artwork applied to each car was the culmination of a painstaking process involving proper preparation of the vehicle surfaces, integration of the artwork with the car's three-dimensional shape and its unique bodylines, and doing all that while ensuring the new finish is as durable and ready to withstand the test of time as the car itself that serves as the painter's canvas.

The first Porsche, painted by Le Sauteur, debuted at the Musée National des Beaux Arts du Québec in 2006 to unanimous critical acclaim that led to the establishment of a scholarship to foster emerging young artists. A decision was also made to continue with a project to perform similar artwork on eight automobiles - four painted by Canadian artists and four by international talents. Master artist Yves Thibeault was selected to collaborate directly with the chosen artists and responsible for the artwork. His signature also accompanies that of each individual artist on each completed vehicle. Russo and Steele is proud to present, on offer two of the most outstanding examples of this incredible collection.

'Masterpiece II' is graced by the wonderful artwork of multidisciplinary artist Jean-Pierre Lafrance. Lafrance was born in Montreal and started his formal drawing and painting studies at the International School of Fine-Arts at age 16. Throughout his long career, Jean-Pierre Lafrance participated in many group and solo exhibitions in Canada, the United-States, France, and Mexico, with many of his works housed in many private and public collections worldwide and his three-dimensional works grace many public spaces, industrial parks and commercial buildings. In addition, he has been featured in many print articles and participated in numerous radio and TV broadcasts. Featuring a striking color palette, Mr. Lafrance's artwork and style confers a dreamlike, metaphysical aura to the basic vehicle underneath it, perfect for this timeless Porsche 911 and its almost magical driving experience. With rising interest in Art Cars in the tradition of those based on BMWs and Porsches, this example by Jean-Pierre Lafrance and Yves Thibeault of the Art Cars Project makes a fantastic opportunity for smart collectors and Porsche fans to acquire and enjoy a true piece of rolling art.

Dubbed 'Masterpiece III', this 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera 3.2 features the dramatic and provocative artwork of Dominic Besner over its red paint finish, complete with a raging bull on the hood surface with horns extending to the front fenders. A university-trained architect, Mr. Besner was born in North Lancaster, Ontario, in 1965. Exploring the interaction of people and their environment and cultural paradigms, he discovered painting was his true passion, described in his biography as '...a pictorial esthetic of figures and space, reflected through the half realist, half fictional gaze of the artist.' To fulfill his unique vision, Besner primarily employs a mixed technique on canvas including a finger application technique and scraping of surface of the canvas, mainly using oil paint and its rich color spectrum, supplemented by many other media including acrylic paint, structural mortar, china marker and aerosol paint. His paintings have been described as '...clairvoyant and playful observations of the world,' and the characters he has created maintain '...a trace of the past, sometimes seeming like a shadow of themselves, facing their destiny without fear,' aesthetic and artistic sensibilities that wonderfully match the essential character of Porsche's classic air-cooled 911. A truly creative achievement, this very special 911 'Art Car' by Dominic Besner embodies the artist's unique vision, much as the original '911' did for its creator, Ferdinand A. 'Butzi' Porsche back in the early 1960s.

Experience all the high energy excitement of Russo and Steele in Monterey for yourself! Bidder registration is just $200 and includes admission for all 3 days of 'Auction in the Round' action for the bidder and one lucky guest. Stay tuned for further updates on our 16th annual Monterey auction and event schedule and join us for the Hottest Nights in Monterey August 18-20 on the waterfront near historic Fisherman's Wharf!

For Enthusiasts by Enthusiasts. ™ At Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auctions, it's far more than a tagline - it's our lifestyle! To obtain further supporting documentation, high-resolution images, or more information about Russo and Steele and our upcoming Monterey, California auction, please contact Darin Roberge at darin@russoandsteele.com.

About Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auctions

One of the nation's premier collector-car auction houses, Russo and Steele Collector Automobile Auctions continues to set records and attract a discerning global clientele. In addition to our reputation for offering stellar collector automobiles, our unique high-energy auction experience is simply unattainable anywhere else. Auctions include our signature event in Scottsdale, Arizona every January, followed by June at Newport Beach, and August at Monterey, California. For additional information, please visit www.russoandsteele.com or call 602.252.2697.

Photo credit: Russo and Steele
posted on conceptcarz.com

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