By Leon Brittain
Miami Art Week 2024 was a diverse gathering of creative minds, celebrities, and industry professionals seeking refreshed ideologies from novel collections hosted at art museums, galleries, and fairs throughout Miami Beach, Wynwood, and Downtown Miami. The glamorous and entertaining backdrop was the perfect setting for a getaway to revel in the visual installations, abstract paintings, and mixed-media sculptures.
While celebrating in the form of artistry through automotive excellence, Bentley hosted a trifecta of engagements with a focus on its Art in Motion party and partnership announcement with famed tattoo artist Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy. With much respect, Keith received the title of “the most famous tattoo artist in the world” by Vogue Magazine. Of course, this honor elevated his body art platform to another plateau. When asked how the partnership manifested, Bang Bang pointedly stated that you pick up the phone when Bentley calls. Bentley sought him out for his renowned storytelling abilities and versatile styles that shape specific approaches to nurturing meaningful collaborations.
Headquartered in New York City, his company, Bang Bang Tattoo brings clientele visions to life. Such individuals include Lebron James, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Adele, and Selena Gomez. The goal of the union with Bentley is to integrate his visual concepts and ink technology with Bentley’s Mulliner personalization program. Dubbed Magic Ink, the revolutionary technology allows users to turn their tattoos on and off using specific wavelengths of light. Bang Bang says it’s the world’s first rewritable, erasable, and reprogrammable tattoo ink. Brilliant!
“This is an exciting exploration of the realm of artistic customization in an entirely new medium,” said Bang Bang. “Bentley offers a canvas as luxurious and transformative as my tattoo art. This project allows us to create a masterpiece that celebrates individuality in motion.”
For the Art in Motion reveal, Bentley selected Temple House in South Beach for hundreds of Miami’s finest to enjoy the vibe and witness the partnership announcement. Featuring a display of three impressive vehicles, a Bentley Bentayga EWB Mulliner was the highlight of the evening. The luxury SUV is the pinnacle of self-expression and unrivaled craftsmanship and sets a new benchmark for aficionados of the legendary brand. It was outfitted in a UV vehicle wrap featuring patented ultraviolet printing similar to Bang Bang’s Magic Ink.
“Bentley has always pushed the boundaries to deliver the ultimate in craftsmanship, personalization and performance,” stated Mike Rocco, President and CEO of Bentley Americas. “This introduction with Bang Bang showcases our commitment to blending artistry and ingenuity to redefine what’s possible in bespoke luxury.”
The joint blueprint was led by Bang Bang and Bentley Mulliner designers, including Rich Morris who flew in from England for the celebration. Bentayga is the first vehicle built under Bentley’s “Beyond100” business plan, with “100” signifying the company’s historical 1919 debut. The next installation project between Bentley and Bang Bang drops in 2025.
