Shepard Fairey

CART Department is pleased to present the world premiere of Shepard Fairey's Untitled (Art Car). This pop-up exhibition is the debut of Fairey's intervention on a 1937 Packard Touring Sedan featuring his signature bold graphic iconography and portraits of distinguished hip-hop and punk musicians, along with new prints inspired by the car and dozens of original artworks.

Painted in intricate metallic gold patterns, Fairey's custom car pairs the visual language of luxury with pointed social commentary, turning a symbol of excess into a reflection on power and consumption. One side of the Packard entertains themes of wealth and opulence and features hip-hop phrases from illustrious artists of a generation, including Slick Rick, Chuck D of Public Enemy, and the Notorious B.I.G. The other side offers a critique of consumerism and power and draws on punk-music lyrics from Joe Strummer of The Clash, Jello Biafra of Dead Kennedys, and Jamie Reid's work with the Sex Pistols.

The exhibition includes a specially curated musical playlist by the artist that celebrates the hip-hop and punk cultural icons represented on the car. Special programming will accompany the exhibition including a panel presented by The Hip Hop Museum on Saturday, September 26, titled "When the Underground Becomes the Archive: Art, Music, Memory, and the Making of Cultural Authority," featuring Rocky Bucano, Grandwizzard Theodore, and Eric Orr. As The Hip Hop Museum notes, Hip Hop and punk emerged from the same disinherited streets in the 1970s — two undergrounds built by young people who were told there was no future for them, and who built one anyway. The conversation extends the exhibition's central questions about power, ownership, and legacy into a dialogue on how Hip Hop's underground origins have earned their place in the cultural record.

"Hip Hop has never needed permission to be art — it has always been art, from the very first time a needle touched a record in the Bronx," said Rocky Bucano, Founder and CEO of The Hip Hop Museum. "What Shepard has done with this Packard is put that truth in gold and metal for the world to see, sitting right alongside the punk tradition that was asking many of the same questions about power. Hip Hop and punk have always been in conversation — different languages, same refusal to stay silent about who holds the wealth. We're honored to bring that conversation into the room."

Art Cars: A New Genre of Creative Expression — In the ever-evolving and interconnected sphere of contemporary art, the vibrant intersection of technology, culture, and personal narrative has given rise to a unique genre: art cars. "Since its invention, the automobile has inspired a dynamic pull on the human imagination. Vehicles of all varieties have become more than just modes of transportation, symbols of wealth or engineering marvels. They've become canvases for artists and vivid reflections of their cultural moments," says CART Department Co-Founder Larry Warsh.

The art car concept is not entirely new; it can be traced back to the mid-20th century when artists like John Chamberlain and César began incorporating automobile components into their sculptures. The contemporary art car movement gained momentum in the 1980s and 1990s as artists began to view cars not merely as machines but as expressive forms that convey personal and societal themes while providing a legitimate medium for artistic exploration.

Shepard Fairey (b. 1970, Charleston, South Carolina) is an artist widely known for his iconic Andre the Giant has a Posse street-art campaign created in 1989 and his Hope for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. Using high-recognition imagery, striking forms, and bold graphics to merge street art with political messaging, Fairey's art occupies a unique place within the canon of global contemporary art. Created on a 1937 Packard Touring Sedan, his Untitled (Art Car) contrasts two musical perspectives on capitalism.

CART Department is a cultural platform devoted to the automobile as an artistic and social artifact. Moving between past and present, CART explores how cars shape identity, aesthetics, and collective imagination. Through curation and cultivation, CART creates a cultural space at the intersection of automotive culture, art, and design.

The Hip Hop Museum will include a dynamic blend of traditional exhibits and immersive experiences, including rare artifacts, memorabilia, visual arts, interactive stations, digital installations, live performances and community engagement. These elements will allow visitors of all ages to engage deeply with Hip Hop's history and its ongoing influence on modern life. The expansive 55,000 square foot environment will reflect Hip Hop's kinetic energy, ensuring the experience feels as vibrant, dynamic and communal as the culture itself. The opening of The Hip Hop Museum marks a historic occasion in the celebration and preservation of Hip Hop culture.