Resurgent American motorcycle company Indian has revealed a new series of FTR1200 models which have been crafted into mobile fine art, using a variety of different artists to paint parts of the bike.
The first of the collaborative works were unveiled at the recent Wheels & Waves custom bike show in Biarritz, France with art styles ranging from street graffiti to modern abstract art.
Five world-renowned artists were given the opportunity to work on a range of FTR1200 and FTR1200S models with each given the freedom to reflect their own personal artistic style on the custom-painted tank covers.
The FTR1200 range was introduced for 2019 and is the sportiest of the reborn Indian range. The bikes feature
The idea of allowing artists to work on bikes like this isn’t a new one; BMW has done this sort of thing with cars and bikes for many years, while Mini and Triumph both worked with clothes designer Paul Smith. The results are always worth a look.
The FTR1200 Artist Series tank covers will be available at select Indian dealers. Check with your local dealer for more details.
This is what Indian has to say about the five different artists who did the work on the bikes:
Steve Caballero: A legendary skateboarding icon and original member of the famed “Bones Brigade,” Cab has forged his legacy by turning pools and half pipes into canvases for his skate artistry. Over the years, he has become well-known for his extraordinary “low-brow,” hot-rod-culture-inspired original artwork. His designs are now highly sought after by brands and collectors across the skate and art industries.
D*Face: D*Face (a.k.a. Dean Stockton) is a leading figure in Urban Contemporary Art, inaugurating his career on the streets more than 15 years ago. He originally entered the scene by hand-drawing stickers and posters, adhering them all over London and beyond for the unsuspecting public to discover. His work has since evolved, from fine art gallery shows to full-scale outdoor mural installations that transform urban landscapes and high-rise buildings into massive works of art.
Adam Turman: A home-grown visionary from Indian Motorcycle’s very own backyard of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Turman is known best for large-scale, vivid and dynamic wall-mural installations throughout the Midwest. He began his art career by creating gig posters for local bands, taking inspiration from the bold, graphic style of 1980s comics and heavy metal art. Turman’s keen ability to marry his bold, vivid artistic visions with strategic-marketing objectives has made him one of the Midwest region’s most sought-after commercial artists.
ThankYouX: ThankYouX (a.k.a. Ryan Wilson) began his artistic journey on the streets of Los Angeles spray painting stencils in homage to Andy Warhol. While these signature stencils were his initial calling card, they were only scratching the surface of his multi-faceted artistic identity. As his level of notoriety expanded, the nature of his expression evolved to modern abstract designs that stand in contrast to the more conventional graffiti-inspired street-art. His unique brand of street art has captured attention and earned acclaim around the world.
RISK: A true “O.G.” in the world of graffiti, RISK began his career as a founding member of the WCA (West Coast Artists) graffiti crew. RISK was one of the first graffiti writers in Southern California to paint freight trains and pioneered the use of billboards and freeway overpasses as artistic canvases. Over several decades his career has transitioned from the streets to museums, galleries and clothing lines. Risk is an innovative contemporary artist who now incorporates everything from advanced: “colour theory” to “neon” in his body of work.
