ROLLS-ROYCE SELECTS JOSÉ PARLÁ TO JOIN ART PROGRAMME

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is pleased to announce that José Parlá has been selected to join its­­­ Art Programme. The marque will present a site-specific installation of new paintings and sculpture by Parlá which will be on public display during Art Basel in Miami Beach 2016 at the iconic Jewel Box at the National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts). The exhibition, Roots, commissioned as part of the Rolls-Royce Art Programme in partnership with the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), is curated by Laurie Ann Farrell, and will debut worldwide as a new body of work. The show, which will be open from 29 November to 15 December 2016, marks the latest addition to the Programme, founded in celebration of the marque’s commitment to creating unique, rare and aesthetically powerful motor cars.

Miami-born Parlá, of Cuban descent, studied at the Miami Dade Community College, New World School of the Arts and Savannah College of Art & Design and in 2016, was inducted into Miami Dade College’s Alumni Hall of Fame. Through his own work mentoring young artists, namely as a Master Teacher with YoungArts, Parlá shares an affinity with Rolls-Royce and the Art Programme’s legacy of fostering creativity.

“For our patrons, the commissioning of a Rolls-Royce motor car and the creation of fine pieces of art are bound by a common philosophy. Both endeavours are borne of inspiration and are executed at the hands of highly skilled men and women, who strive to create beautiful objects with a profound sense of legacy. The Rolls-Royce Art Programme, formally acknowledges the links between the world’s most celebrated luxury house and the field of art through the creation of works that add to the rich tapestry of artistic endeavour.” said Torsten Müller-Ötvös, Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “We are delighted to welcome José Parlá into an Art Programme that has so successfully inspired artists and patrons of luxury alike by empowering internationally acclaimed masters of their mediums to create truly extraordinary new works.”

This presentation marks the third consecutive year that Rolls-Royce Motors Cars has partnered with YoungArts to coincide with Art Basel, and the second year the magnificent Jewel Box has been selected as a venue to house the newly commissioned works. The exhibition will travel to the SCAD Museum of Art in 2017. For nearly four decades, SCAD has been leading art and design education worldwide and is the preeminent authority on art and design education across the globe.

Upon creating the Roots project, José Parlá commented, “It’s exciting to unveil a new body of work while returning to my hometown. Together with Rolls-Royce and SCAD I’ve created a spectacular installation for YoungArts’ iconic Jewel Box, a place where I’ve seen so many young artists soak in inspiration. It’s an honour to support the arts and future artists and it is a great privilege for me to create this work with such great serendipity under the global spotlight of Art Basel Miami Beach.”

National YoungArts Foundation identifies and nurtures the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts and assists them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development. YoungArts aspires to create a community of alumni and provide a lifetime of encouragement, opportunity and support. In conjunction with the exhibition, Pedro Mota, President of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Americas, will present the 2017 YoungArts Gold Award to a YoungArts winner with José Parlá during Art Basel in Miami Beach.

José Parlá joins a list of prestigious names to have collaborated with Rolls-Royce over recent years, including: Isaac Julien, Angela Bulloch, Ugo Rondinone, Will Cotton and artists whose work will be presented by the marque this year including Mohammed Kazem, Sudarshan Shetty and Yang Fudong.