Artist Richard Pietruska to Unveil Final Piece at Pebble Beach

Pietruska with Veronique GT
Pebble Beach, CA, July 24, 2008 – Renowned Automotive Fine Arts Society sculptor, Richard Pietruska, will unveil “Veronique XGT: The Next Generation” at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 17, 2008. It is the third and last sculpture from his popular Veronique series that blends the beauty of the automobile with the female form. Pietruska will also offer pieces that celebrate some of the most inspiring designs from Europe’s mightiest names, Aston Martin, Ferrari and Bugatti. The art will be shown at the annual AFAS show on the 18th fairway of Pebble Beach Golf Links in an exhibit sponsored by the Lincoln Division of Ford Motor Company.

The third edition Veronique piece is Pietruska’s most extreme yet, featuring hubless wheels, spoilers, various lighting effects and even sound effects. The original Veronique masterpiece earned Pietruska the prestigious Peter Helck award at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours.

“I really tested my boundaries and held nothing back when creating the final Veronique sculpture,” said Pietruska. “In addition to the outrageous design features, ‘Veronique XGT: The Next Generation’ is a tribute to some of my favorite artists like Syd Mead, H.R. Giger, Ernest Trova, Don Potts, Sorayama, Luigi Colani, Rich Parsley and Fritz Lang. They inspired me to push the envelope with my work.”

Joining “Veronique XGT” will be sculptures honoring Aston Martin and Ferrari. The Aston Martin DBR1 and the DB4 sculptures are approximately 12-inches high by 10-inches wide; they are made of cast resin and chrome mounted on a black wrinkled finished steel base. Another in the series of great European designs is a sculpture of the Ferrari 250 TR. This piece is approximately 8-inches high by 10-inches wide in cast resin and chrome mounted on a black wrinkled finished steel base.

“I fell in love with the DBR1 and DB4 when they dazzled the crowds at the Pebble Beach Concours last year, which featured Aston Martin,” noted Pietruska. “These two spectacular models featured curves that caught the breath and represented major milestones in the history of the storied British car maker. My goal was to capture the romance of the rolling works of art in sculptures that also convey a sense of dynamic motion.”

Pietruska will also showcase his talent with “Bugatti Bordeaux,” a detailed work of art that features the luxurious European classic etched into a wine bottle cork.

“I also wanted to create a somewhat whimsical piece that honors a company that reveled in outlandish designs,” added Pietruska. “So I created my smallest sculpture ever by laser cutting a wine bottle cork to form three different pieces or layers that measure 2 1/4 inches long when finished. ‘Bugatti Bordeaux’ has a special cut matt that showcases the sculpture and the Bugatti Logo, which has been changed to BB instead of EB. This limited edition might be the smallest Bugatti sculpture ever made, or at least the smallest ever made from a cork.”

Additional pieces to be exhibited by Pietruska include a large, stainless steel sculpture titled, “Extremely Effervescent,” and a Juan Fangio tribute sculpture.

Lexus also recently commissioned Pietruska to commemorate Chip Ganassi’s three consecutive victories at Daytona in the Riley-Lexus. Celebrated in publications and collections across the world, Pietruska’s influence extends far beyond his art. He has worked for the past three decades as a professor in the Transportation and Product Design Department at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif. Some of his former students include top automotive designers in the U.S. and Japan, as well as head designers at Ford and BMW. More information on Pietruska is available at www.rpmart.com.