Art of Steel: Jeff Koons to Create BMW Art Car

The concept of the BMW Art Car was introduced by Hervé Poulain, an auctioneer and ardent racing driver from France who was searching for a link between art and cars; he asked his friend renowned artist Alexander Calder to paint the first example in 1975.

VIDEO: Learn about the history of the BMW Art Car and watch as Pop artist Andy Warhol paints his 1979 model.

NEW YORK — Jeff Koons, the American artist known for his balloon sculptures of steel, has been chosen to create the 17th version of the BMW Art Car in the 35th anniversary year of the program. The announcement was made at the artist's New York City studio on Tuesday.

"I look forward to participate in a tradition set forth by such great artists as Calder, Lichtenstein, Stella, and Warhol," said Koons, whose design will be revealed later this year. The most recent Art Car was done by Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson in 2007.

BMW board member, Frank-Peter Arndt said, "Our company and Jeff Koons are drawn to permanent innovation and cutting-edge technology. Since 1975, artists from throughout the world have turned BMW automobiles into art signifying a particular period through the Art Car program."

Jim O'Donnell, President of BMW North America added, "The entire BMW Group is looking forward to this celebration of contemporary art by Jeff Koons, one of the greatest artists of our time."

Many of the BMW Art Cars have been exhibited in renowned museums throughout the world including the Louvre, the Guggenheim and the Shanghai Art Museum. 

[Source: PR Newswire]

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Art of Steel: Jeff Koons to Create BMW Art Car

In San Francisco, a Modern Art Museum Celebrates 75 Years

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art turns 75 on January 18, 2010.

SAN FRANCISCO — Hop on a cable car and head over to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; the museum is inviting the public to join in their celebration this weekend. On January 18, SFMOMA will turn 75-years-old, and they're starting the festivities early with a new exhibit - The Anniversary Show.

More than 400 works from the SFMOMA's spectacular collection of paintings, drawings, prints, sculptures, videos, photographs, architectural models, and design objects have been selected for The Anniversary Show. Curators have culled the museum archives and made selections representing  the art and individuals that have made SFMOMA the institution it is today. Artists including Frida Kahlo, Jeff Koons, and Jackson Pollock, Constantin Brancusi, Georges Braque, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali, Paul Klee, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso are among the many whose works are on currently on display.

In addition to the The Anniversary Show, SFMOMA will entertain visitors with a yearlong program of special anniversary exhibitions and events. Each illustrates the stories of the artists, collectors, cultural visionaries, and community leaders who founded, built, and animated the museum. SFMOMA was the first museum on the West Coast devoted solely to 20th-century art and has been a major influence on modern and contemporary art since its opening in 1935.

The Anniversary Show (December 19, 2010) | SFMOMA

The Anniversary Show brings together more than 400 works from the collection of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art,
including highlights such as: "Michael Jackson and Bubbles" (1988) by Jeff Koons, [©Jeff Koons]; "Two Bathers" (1958) by David Park,
[©Estate of David Park]; "Cityscape I (formerly Landscape I)" (1963) by Richard Diebenkorn; [©Estate of Richard Diebenkorn].

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In San Francisco, a Modern Art Museum Celebrates 75 Years

Future Generation Art Prize Will Offer Celeb-Judges and Hefty Cash Award

NEW YORK — One lucky artist will be $100,000 richer this time next year, thanks to Ukranian billionaire/art collector Victor Pinchuk. Announced Tuesday, the Future Generation Art Prize hopes to encourage the support of one generation of artists for another, hence the contest's only eligibility requirement that entrants must be under the age of 35.

Artists can apply online starting January 18 and through April 18. Then on June 20, a short list of twenty artists will be announced; their works will be posted online and shown at Kiev's Pinchuk Art Center in October.

The artwork submissions will be judged by an international jury of arts professionals. And although the panel has yet to be formally announced, singer Elton John and designer Miuccia Prada have been mentioned as potential judges.

The Future Generation Art Prize winner and up to five finalists will be announced in December 2010. Established artists, including Damien Hirst and Jeff Koons, will serve as mentors to the finalists and the winner. The grand prize is $100,000, which comes with one stipulation - $40,000 of the award must be used to create new art. An additional $20,000 will fund artist-in-residency programs for up to five other special prize winners.

Following in the footsteps of this summer's ArtPrize, the Future Generation Art Prize will also offer the public an opportunity to vote for their favorite entries online (American Idol-style) for a non-cash People's Choice Award.

“I am hoping that the Future Generation Art Prize will help promote the Ukraine and Kiev as an important contemporary art center,” said Pinchuk, who plans to offer the Future Generation Art Prize every two years.

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[Photo: Singer Elton John, potential judge of Future Generation Art Prize]

Future Generation Art Prize Will Offer Celeb-Judges and Hefty Cash Award

Size DOES Matter: Shaq Scores a Job as an Art Curator

NEW YORK, NY — Sometimes bigger IS better, at least according to basketball legend and current Cleveland Cavalier Shaquille O'Neal. The 320-pound, 7'1" NBA athlete is taking off his size-22 gym shoes and stepping into the world of fine art. Shaq has scored himself a new job as curator of the Size DOES Matter exhibit opening at the FLAG Art Foundation in February.

“As a curator, I have a responsibility to the artists, who are my 'teammates.' We all have to make each other look good - no different than what I do on the court," Shaq said in an interview.

Size DOES Matter will explore how scale affects the perception of contemporary art and includes pieces whose size is a key component of their composition, whether giant or microscopic. Fifty-two artworks by thirty-nine artists, including Chuck Close, Jeff Koons and Ron Mueck, were hand-selected by Shaq for the exhibit.

“It was a little harder than I thought it would be," Shaq explained. "When you think about what each of the artists put into their work, what they are expressing and want to share with the world, you feel bad about having to narrow it down."

The exhibit will be accompanied by a comprehensive catalog of images and an essay by controversial (recall his semi-fictional memoir A Million Little Pieces - Oprah's Book Club Selection scandal), bestselling author James Frey.

“This won’t be like another nice show at MoMA or the Met," Frey said. “Getting Shaq, one of the largest people in the world, to curate a show about scale is really fun. He does a lot of things that are unconventional for a guy of his stature."

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Size DOES Matter (February 19 - May 27, 2010)

FLAG Art Foundation | Website

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Read More - Shaq Takes a Shot at Art as Curator of Show 'Size DOES Matter' | Bloomberg

[Photo: Ron Mueck's Big Man (2000) is on loan from the Hirshhorn Museum for the Size DOES Matter exhibit.]

Size DOES Matter: Shaq Scores a Job as an Art Curator

A Night at the Museum: Guggenheim's First Annual Art Awards Ceremony

NEW YORK, NY -- There are dozens of award shows honoring actors and musicians, and now artists are finally being recognized for their creative achievements. On Thursday evening, stars including Kylie Minogue, Julianne Moore, James Franco and Mary-Kate Olsen, were at the Guggenheim Museum for a Hollywood-esque awards ceremony - The First Annual Art Awards. Conceived by artist Rob Pruitt, The First Annual Art Awards "honors select individuals, exhibitions, and projects that have made a significant impact on the field of contemporary art during the past year." And instead of the traditional metal statuette, winners took home a celebratory bucket of champagne that conveniently also serves as a fully functional lamp.

More than four hundred artists and art world professionals selected the nominees. And winners are (envelope please)...

■ Artist of the Year | Mary Heilmann

■ Curator of the Year | Connie Butler

■ Exhibition Outside the United States | Jeff Koons, Versailles, Château de Versailles, France

■ Group Show of the Year, Gallery | Who’s Afraid of Jasper Johns? Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York

■ Group Show of the Year, Museum | The Pictures Generation, 1974–1984, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

■ New Artist of the Year | Ryan Trecartin

■ The Rob Pruitt Award | Cynthia Plaster Caster

■ Solo Show of the Year, Gallery | Manzoni: A Retrospective, Gagosian Gallery, New York

■ Solo Show of the Year, Museum | Martin Kippenberger: The Problem Perspective, Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and Museum of Modern Art, New York

■ Writer of the Year | Jerry Saltz

■ Lifetime-Achievement | Joan Jonas and Kasper König

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[Read More - Winners of Art Awards Announced at Guggenheim Museum Ceremony | Guggenheim.org]

A Night at the Museum: Guggenheim's First Annual Art Awards Ceremony