We’ve already shared news of classic cars-as-art exhibitions at two major American art museums. Now comes word that former Petersen Automotive Museum director Ken Gross also is curating Rolling Sculpture: Art Deco Cars from the 1930s and ‘40s to run October 1 through January 15, 2017, at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh.
“The art deco period — from the 1920s to 1940s — is known for blending modern decorative arts and industrial design and is today synonymous with luxury and glamour,” the museum said in its news release. “The cars from this era are no exception.
“While today manufacturers strive for economy and efficiency, during the art deco period elegance reigned supreme. With bold, sensuous shapes, hand-crafted details, and luxurious finishes, the 14 cars and three motorcycles in Rolling Sculpture: Art Deco Cars from the 1930s and ’40s provide stunning examples of car design at its peak.”
“These exquisite cars—several of which are truly one-of-a-kind—show what can happen when an automaker’s imagination takes the wheel,” Gross said. “There were absolutely no limitations or constraints placed on design, and it shows beautifully. This exhibition is a perfect demonstration of the intersection of art and cars, and the title Rolling Sculpture could not be more accurate.”
Rolling Sculpture is one of several exhibitions the museum announced this week. One February 4, 2017, it opens Ansel Adams: Masterworks, including 48 photographs of American landscapes, and on March 4, 2017, it presents Glory of Venice: Masterworks of the Renaissance, with paintings including several not previously seen outside Venice.
“We are thrilled to be able to present such spectacular and varied collections to our visitors in the coming year,” said museum director Lawrence Wheeler. “With sleek automobiles designed during the glamorous art deco period, Ansel Adams’s black-and-white portraits of the American landscape, and masterful paintings from the Venetian Renaissance, we will have something for everyone.”
