Rolls-Royce and Mickalene Thomas Reveal Bespoke Phantom Benefitting (RED)

Rolls-Royce and Mickalene Thomas Reveal Bespoke Phantom Benefitting (RED)

L ast May Rolls-Royce celebrated its 115th Anniversary at Sotheby's New York, where the historic automobile company announced its plan to debut a Bespoke Red Phantom. Sotheby’s is now pleased to share Rolls-Royce’s final creation, a car that combines luxury, artistry and philanthropy.

The Bespoke Phantom will be unveiled at a gala event at the One Thousand Museum in Miami, on 4 December, as Sotheby’s and RM Sotheby’s launch an exclusive online auction, which will run until 13 December on sothebys.com. Proceeds from the auction, after costs, will benefit (RED)’s fight to end AIDS.

The successful bidder will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with one of the world’s most respected Contemporary artists, Mickalene Thomas, who currently is the subject of solo presentations at The Bass, Miami, Baltimore Museum of Art, and Contemporary Art Center New Orleans. The artist will create a custom wrap for the exterior of the motor car, based on an original work of art inspired by the Red Phantom for the collector.

“I am honored to collaborate with such an esteemed group of partners as (RED), Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Sotheby’s and RM Sotheby’s in the global fight to end AIDS. To be able to share my creative vision in a way that impacts such a noble cause feels powerful and inspiring to me and I am sure to the ultimate winning bidder who is coming together with these amazing organizations to change the world,” said Mickalene Thomas.

Phantom’s exterior hue features a Bespoke finish of Crystal over Magma Red. Particles of crystal captured in the final layers of finish creating a luxurious luminescence. The handcrafted Bespoke leather interior in Brilliant Arctic White is offset by bright Mugello Red highlights overseen by the iconic and colorful Mugello Red ‘Shooting Starlight Headliner.’ Housed within a single-piece glass fascia and extending across the instrument panel, the Gallery design, ‘Red Regatta Sails,’ is constructed of Bespoke Mugello Red leather.

(Left) Mickalene Thomas, Racquel: I See You, 2018.
(Center) Mickalene Thomas, Inanna #4, 2019.
(Right) Mickalene Thomas, Diahann Carroll #2, 2017. All images © Mickalene Thomas.

When the digital hammer falls, the ultimate bidder will be the proud owner of the Red Phantom, a personalized artwork by Ms. Thomas and the honor of having supported (RED) in its mission.

Automobiles | RM Sotheby's Collaborations

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