MotoArto: A Collision of Car Culture and Contemporary Art

This July, in the heart of Shoreditch, something curious is set to rumble to life beneath the brick arches of The Bike Shed. It's called MotoArto—a bold cultural experiment that fuses fine art with re-engineered automotive craftsmanship. Part exhibition, part homage, and entirely unexpected, MotoArto may just reshape how we think about cars, art, and everything in between.

The brains behind MotoArto are Marchella De Angelis, an entrepreneur with a deep affection for "Outlaw" vehicles, and Kim Shaylor, the founder of art platform Gone Rogue. De Angelis has spent years immersed in the world of automotive counterculture, culminating in her documentary The Outlaw in Me, a love letter to the community of bespoke builders pushing against the grain. The film earned accolades last year at the International Motor Film Awards—and now, that same energy fuels MotoArto.

Outlaws and Originals

At its core, MotoArto is a stage for a new generation of automotive expressionists—builders and artists who challenge convention. Names like Thornley Kelham, Frontline Cars, and Renard Motorcycles will showcase hand-built vehicles, custom concepts, and the elusive “Outlaw” cars that inspired this movement in the first place.

But it doesn’t stop at the vehicles. MotoArto invites visitors to experience works from over 20 established and emerging artists. Perhaps the most headline-grabbing debut comes from Maxim, the iconic frontman of The Prodigy, who has collaborated with Renard to design a one-of-a-kind motorcycle, and Sophie Tea, a contemporary British artist with an enormous social media following, who will be painting directly onto a surprise car. This performance aligns with her mission to merge art with everyday experiences and further blurs the lines between different creative disciplines.

Elsewhere in the exhibition, audiences can expect work from artists such as:

• Lawrence Lek, winner of Frieze 2024, whose digital art explores AI, architecture, and simulated environments.
• Paul Fuentes, known for surreal, pop-influenced compositions blending design, humour, and lifestyle aesthetics.
• Emma Gibbons, whose playful, provocative pieces toe the line between high art and high fashion.
• Alistair Morrison, a renowned portrait photographer whose past subjects have included global cultural icons.

As mass-produced vehicles become increasingly homogeneous, the hunger for bespoke, character-filled vehicles has surged. MotoArto sits squarely at this intersection. It’s a celebration of the rebellious spirit of customisation, and a showcase for those who see engines and art supplies as equally valid tools.

A Summer of Automotive Culture

MotoArto arrives in the midst of a packed summer calendar for car enthusiasts in the UK. Just weeks before, the London Concours will take place at the Honourable Artillery Company, with special celebrations planned for Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz. Soon after MotoArto, the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed takes centre stage in West Sussex, and in late August Salon Privé at Blenheim Palace will offer its signature blend of elegance and concours-level craftsmanship, with De Tomaso set to be out in force with their new P72. Rest assured, there is something for everyone this summer.

MotoArto dates and times open to the public:

Thursday 3 July – 11am – 6pm

Friday 4 July – 11am – 8pm

Saturday 5 July – 10.30am – 6pm

Tickets available at www.motoarto.com (Custodian users can also use code MOTOARTO5OFF for £5 off their ticket price).