In 2008, one of my brother’s friends invited me to donate a painting that would be auctioned off for charity on a yacht during the Monaco Grand Prix in exchange for full access to the event. I bit his head off at the opportunity having never been to Monaco or seen an F1 car.
Upon arrival I was transfixed- I couldn’t get over the electricity in the air. The roar of the engines was deafening and I was amazed by the wealth and glamour I witnessed in the hotels I was taken to versus the crowds of ordinary people gathering on the tops of staircases or balconies, snacking on baguettes, desperate to capture glimpses of their favourite cars and drivers.
I have been going back every two years ever since and it never gets old. It is not just a race; it is a feeling, a spectacle, a legacy. It is exactly the kind of atmosphere that calls me to paint.
This collection was born from that energy. I wanted to capture the way Monaco feels during race week, the glamour, the intensity, the juxtaposition of elegant verses modern architecture crammed together, decorated with palm trees and cranes alike, bursting with colour. Every brushstroke is a reflection of the contrasts I felt when I was there: the rush of speed against the timeless calm of the Riviera.
As an artist, I am always seeking to capture a moment in time, to bottle the energy, excitement and history. The Monaco Grand Prix gives me endless inspiration, it’s forever changing and a place I could paint forever. It’s never about creating a photographic representation; my aim is always to create a memory which invokes a smile every time you look at it.
Each piece in the collection tells part of that story: the pulse of the cars flying around the Fairmont corner, the glittering sunlight that bounces off the super yachts, the DJ’s blaring out music to the subtle chink of champagne glasses. The feeling of glamour and exclusivity infiltrates every pore of this small city which I find utterly exhilarating.
This collection is for those who see more than just a race; it is for those who see Monaco the way I do. Loud, bright, glamorous and vivacious, full of expectation, excitement and promise.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. I cannot wait for you to experience it.
A L