Woodland Hills, CA, June 2007 – The painting that launched the modern automotive art movement is going up for sale at the Gooding Auction to be held following the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on Saturday, August 18, 2007.
Pink Fin was inspired by a ’59 Cadillac tail fin that Harold Cleworth saw at an auto show in Northern England. Painted by Cleworth in 1975, this iconic rendition of an icon kicked off a wave of other automotive portraits. The painting has been a part of a private contemporary art collection for the past two decades.
“The Pink Fin established my career as an automotive artist,” said Cleworth. “I saw a silver 1959 convertible Cadillac at a motor show in England and years later in the U.S., another classic Cadillac–in pink. Both left an impression on me so I decided to paint the Pink Fin.”
The painted fin jump started Cleworth’s career and led to the painting of his next wildly popular work, a black 1958 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing with open doors facing forward. This image has appeared around the world in magazines, on TV shows and been used to decorate movie sets. The original disappeared from public view more than 25 years ago. Cleworth originals are now rarely offered for public sale and range around $18,000 to $40,000 a piece.
After graduating from Manchester College of Art in the U.K. and working on album designs for artist such as The Who and The Rolling Stones at Decca Records in London, Cleworth brought his talent to California in the early ‘70s. The automobile became his muse becaue it represented a difficult time in American culture. Cleworth’s trademark style of super-realism is instantly recognizable, and his 33-year career has moved the art world to see fine automobile art as more than just cars.
While much of his work has exhibited at galleries throughout California, Cleworth has also been commissioned by private collectors for portraits of their Bugattis, Duesenbergs and Ferraris, as well as automobile companies such as Saab, Isuzu, Ford, Chevrolet and Lincoln Mercury. He has also created collector and limited editions for many events including the Los Angeles and Chicago Auto Shows.
To have a look at this piece of automotive art and to see some truly spectacular vehicles you’ll have to make the trip to the Gooding Auction that takes place on Saturday, August 18, 2007, after the Pebble Beach Concours. It will be held at the equestrian grounds of Pebble Beach for the first time.
For more information, call 310-899-1960 or visit
www.goodingco.com .
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