The Italian luxury coachbuilder ARES Modena (which specializes in limited series and one-off supercars for select clients) invited legendary motorsports champion Danny Sullivan to a VIP celebration on February 3rd in the Miami Design District.
The reception was in honor of the nationally acclaimed artist Hubert Phipps who was one of Sullivan’s professional teammates.
The private event celebrated the art exhibition Hubert Phipps: Ascending, which ushered in the arrival of the ARES S1 supercar model for its North American premiere at the new ARES Design Miami showroom (the first ARES showroom in the U.S.).
Luminaries from the art world, including prominent collectors, curators, designers, news media, culture-lovers, and racecar industry leaders attended.
This reception was presented by the award-winning Italian wine Lambrusco Concerto by Medici Ermete winery (awarded for 13 consecutive years Tre Bicchieri Gambero Rosso, winner of “Best in Show Champion Trophy,” and awarded to the International Wine Challenge 2010 in London).
The paintings and sculptures by Phipps surrounded the supercar model in the showroom, creating a striking effect. A sculptor and painter, Hubert Phipps is also a pilot, coming up on his 50th anniversary as an aviator in the tradition of the Phipps family.
The exhibition featured several works born out of the artist’s love for acceleration and for aerodynamic forms. Watch the premiere video HERE of the ARES S1 supercar, and watch a video of the event featuring Danny Sullivan and Hubert Phipps HERE.
“I am honored to have been invited by ARES Miami for this collaboration and am thrilled that my friend Danny Sullivan was present at this special reception,” said Hubert Phipps. “ARES Modena is one of the world’s leading studios of high-performance design and stellar engineering, and this collaboration is igniting new inspirations in my artmaking.”
The title of this exhibition–Hubert Phipps: Ascending–reflects the growing national recognition of the artist, and Phipps’ history with racecars and aircraft. The exhibition debuted during the week of Art Basel in Miami. “Phipps’ background as a champion racecar driver and an aviator is clearly evident in his sleek, captivating artwork. These bold pieces by Phipps created a singular, powerful experience as they encircled our ARES S1 supercar model for its North American debut. The passion that goes into coachbuilding is very similar to producing a sculpture, each is a masterpiece that can be appreciated for its unique shape and design,” adds Dany Bahar, Co-Founder and CEO of ARES Modena.
The new ARES S1 supercar model was flown from Italy to Miami and has never been shown in North America. The one-of-a-kind, automotive work of art is the centerpiece for this exhibition, surrounded by sculptures and artworks by Phipps that are seen as a perfect fit with the creative aesthetic behind ARES Modena’s singular success in automotive design.
Only 24 versions of the ARES S1 supercar will be created in the entire world, each tailor-made to the client’s desires and taste, making each design unique. The ARES S1’s dramatic low-profile is similar to racing prototypes from the ‘70s and ‘80s.
Hand-crafted in carbon fiber, the curvaceous wheel arches, with sculptured side skirts and forward sitting cockpit, give a sleek yet aggressive stance. The S1 is powered by a naturally aspirated V8 delivering power to the wheels via an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. The interior combines the finest Alcantara and Napa leather that is quilted in specific areas.
These sculptures and artworks by Phipps rev up the space in the ARES Miami showroom, apace with the supercar’s electrifying spirit: Sky Temple, Voyager, Arch, Lava Flow, Africa 1, and Africa 2, plus a maquette-sized version of Rocket from the private collection of real estate magnate Lawrence Moens. The exhibition also features Phipps’ signature paint pigment drawings: Momentum, Current, Impulse, and Rhythm. The special guest at this event was certified sommelier Mauro Maugliani (WSET Awarded), an Italian wine specialist for the Southeast USA and the Caribbean for Kobrand Corporation.
