Arizona's Art Cars: From Camera Vans to Lowriders, a Public Art Tradition
Arizona's art car scene, from Harrod Blank's Camera Van to Kirk Strawn's Walter the Bus, is a vibrant form of public art. Blank's 1972 Dodge van, adorned with over 1,700 cameras, exemplifies the elaborate creations. The tradition traces back to Sonia Delaunay's 1920s Parisian art cars and includes Keith Haring's 1980s painted cars and Jesse Littlebird's Petrolglyph (2024) on a 1973 Dodge Dart. Phoenix-based Walter Productions, founded by Strawn after Burning Man, builds massive art cars like Kalliope (2013) and plans a sister car, Erato. Blank's Art Car World museum in Douglas houses over three dozen art cars and is open weekends. Lowrider art is also prominent, with Javier 'Spawk' Cordova sharing skills at Third Rail PHX, and the Tempe History Museum's exhibition Ranfla Vida running through December 31. Jose Benavides created the Madonna Car (1995) from license plates and rivets, and is working on the Lupita Car, inspired by Liz Cohen's Trabantimino. These art cars serve as accessible public art, bypassing traditional galleries.
Key facts
- Harrod Blank's Camera Van (1995) is a 1972 Dodge van with over 1,700 cameras.
- Art cars have been showcased at Burning Man, Houston Art Car Parade, and Electric Daisy Carnival.
- Sonia Delaunay created art cars in 1920s Paris; Keith Haring painted cars in the 1980s.
- Jesse Littlebird's Petrolglyph (2024) is a 1973 Dodge Dart with Pueblo pottery designs.
- Kirk Strawn founded Walter Productions in Phoenix after Burning Man; Walter the Bus (2009) is a fire truck replica of a VW Westfalia.
- Walter Productions plans a sister car to Kalliope (2013) named Erato.
- Art Car World museum in Douglas, Arizona, founded by Blank, houses over 36 art cars.
- Javier 'Spawk' Cordova teaches lowrider art at Third Rail PHX; Tempe History Museum's Ranfla Vida exhibition runs through Dec 31.
- Jose Benavides' Madonna Car (1995) uses 500 license plates and 3,600 rivets; he is working on the Lupita Car.
- Liz Cohen's Trabantimino (2002-12) was shown in Body/Magic at ASU Art Museum in 2021.
Entities
Artists
- Harrod Blank
- Sonia Delaunay
- Keith Haring
- Jesse Littlebird
- Kirk Strawn
- Javier 'Spawk' Cordova
- Eddie 'ET' Torres
- Jose Benavides
- Liz Cohen
- Marco Albarran
Institutions
- Burning Man
- Houston Art Car Parade
- Electric Daisy Carnival
- Walter Productions
- Walter Studios
- Walter Where?House
- Art Car World
- Third Rail PHX
- Tempe History Museum
- ASU Art Museum
- Southwest Contemporary
Locations
- Arizona
- Phoenix
- Douglas
- Mesa
- Tempe
- Scottsdale
- Guadalupe
- Santa Cruz
- Las Vegas
- New Mexico
- Paris
- United States