The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, CA, just opened a new exhibit dedicated to automotive history and archeology, featuring full-size Porsche, Ferrari, and Ford sculptures. The artist behind the “Arsham Auto Motive” exhibit is Daniel Arsham, a New York City-based contemporary artist famous for his intricate sculptures. His latest work revolves around his fictional archaeological technique, which displays cars in various states of “erosion.”
Arsham Auto Motive showcases an eroded Ford Mustang GT Fastback, Porsche 911 SC, and Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder. These feature selenite, quartz, pyrite, and volcanic ash. The goal is to make them appear like an archeologist has dug them up, showcasing how these cars might erode over time.
While some sculptures are static displays, others can roll and steer. The Ferrari 250 GT California Spyder is one, which takes inspiration from the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Given that a real 250 GT is a multi-million-dollar vehicle, Arsham contacted the people behind the replica made for the film and used one as the base for the sculpture. Arsham removed the car’s panels and significant components and fully cast its interior and exterior before refitting them to the original chassis.
Smaller-scale models live in podiums surrounding the full-size cars, including another Porsche 911 and a DMC DeLorean. On the walls live eroded posters showcasing the movies that inspired the full-size sculptures and eroded automotive magazines.
Alongside the sculptures sits a 1955 Porsche 356 Speedster, which Arsham explains a previous owner had restored poorly. To showcase the 356’s bodywork in its most natural form, Arsam fully stripped it of paint, showcasing its bare metal. Inside, it sports a denim interior made by stitching second-hand articles of clothing together.
Latest Petersen Automotive Museum Exhibits
Arsham told the Petersen, “I’m excited to share my work with the city of Los Angeles and its vast community of car enthusiasts,” later adding, “Automotive design is in a constant state of evolution, and this exhibition strives to reflect both its origins and future.”
Arsham’s work goes far beyond sculptures, as he also co-founded the architecture practice Snarkitecture and Objects IV Life fashion brand. Throughout his career,. Arsham has collaborated with major brands such as Dior, Adidas, Tiffany, UNIQLO, and RIMOWA. His latest exhibit is open for viewing at the Peterson Automotive Museum and displayed at the Armand Hammer Foundation Gallery.
