Anthony James: Hot Wheels

Craig McDean Shoots the Auto-Obsessed Sculptor

Anthony James made his dent on the art world in 2008 with a sacrificial torched Ferrari titled "ΚΘ", but his love for extraordinary machines blossomed at London's Central St. Martin’s college where he studied fine art. “I learned the beauty of metal, and saw it as a medium for a discourse of our culture,” James says. The mechanical muse has since featured heavily in the artist’s oeuvre, from his 2004 work “Saw,” for which he installed a chainsaw in a mirrored light box, to ambitiously scaled future projects that James hints will involve an F-12 airplane. Having developed a reputation early on as an enfant terrible of the contemporary art world, James nurtures his rebel persona by indulging a penchant for getaway vehicles: alternating between a ’73 Mercedes SL coupé and a black Rolls-Royce Corniche to explore the canyons and highways of Los Angeles, his part-time home. James also resides in New York, where he was snapped for NOWNESS by longtime friend and celebrated photographer Craig McDean. We asked the artist to list his favorite vintage models.

1937 Bugatti 57
A little too decadent and a little too scarce, but almost perfection.

1957 Ferrari Testa Rossa
Part of the 250 series and one of the great contributions to the discourse of automobiles.

1961 Jaguar E-Type
I like metal, I like aluminum, I like a V12 [12-cylinder engine], I like a 170 miles an hour.

1961 Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato
Too beautiful for James Bond.

1962 Ferrari 250 GTO
Listen to Claude Lelouch's [1976 short film] C'etait un Rendezvous soundtrack: In order to make the 6.9 liter Mercedes in the film sound faster, they recorded a Ferrari then overdubbed it.

1966 Ford GT40 Mk II
The best of America. Its domination of Le Mans took Ferrari out of the running.

1971 Ferrari Daytona
Eurotrash, Miami Vice, Versace suits, Lake Como to Monaco.

1987 Ferrari F40
No traction control, no computer bullshit––just raw power. The most fun car to drive.

1992 McLaren F1
A breakthrough in technology. Undoubtedly one of the best-performing machines ever made.

2005 Ford GT
Ford's former chief designer Camilo Pardo's masterpiece. My favorite car.

March 5, 2011

Solange Knowles for Saint Heron: Eldorado Ballroom

Supported by Ferragamo and Ilia, Solange Knowles for Saint Heron curates Eldorado Ballroom, featuring six programs across three major Houston venues: Jones Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the historic Eldorado Ballroom. The series aims to honor the legacies of Black artists while showcasing new voices and innovation in music. As a celebration of Houston's musical legacy, the program features nights of classical works by Black female composers, spiritual/gospel music, contemporary and performance art, and many other tributes to the city's sound culture. Two free film screenings accompany the series. 10 - 16 June.

UK AIDS Memorial Quilt

Initiated by Charlie Porter, the Tate Modern displays the entire UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, bringing its 42 quilts and 23 individual panels to the Turbine Hall. Visitors will have a rare oppurtunity to view the work, which spans the entire floor of the hall and represents 384 individuals affected by HIV and AIDS. The UK AIDS Memorial Quilt is a chapter of the largest community art project in the world, continuously aiming to raise awareness of the ongoing AIDS pandemic. There will also be an opportunity to warch unseen documentary There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (1995), screening in the Starr Cinema, along with a live reading of the names, and a special choral piece by the London Gay Men’s Chorus. Until 16 June.

David Hockney 25

David Hockney, one of the most influential artists of the 20th and 21st centuries, has taken over the entire building of the Fondation Louis Vuitton for an exhibition that is exceptional in its scale and originality. David Hockey 25 brings together more than 400 of his works (from 1955 to 2025), including paintings from international, institutional, and private collections, as well as works from the artist’s own studio and Foundation. The exhibition shows how the artist has continually renewed both his subjects and his mode of expression, reinventing his art with the use of new media to become a champion of new technologies. Until 31 August.

NOWNESS