Vehicles

Cars are an unrestrained expression of American wealth, and an unrestrained expression of psychological willfulness…they represent our culture of great wealth, aspiration, and a time of us coming to terms with dealing with psychological immaturities. The notion that a possession of ours could represent us, could establish us, could make a permanent notion that we have of ourselves.

-James Michalopoulos

Michalopoulos tends to select as subjects American mid-century classic cars, in flashy colors like yellow, red, and powder blue. He often paints them at a dynamic angle, emphasizing the assertiveness of their design. These are stand-ins for the assumed attitudes of their owners – confident consumers of American style, with a little bit of the showman, believing that we are what we drive.

-Caroline Kerrigan, Curator