Rolls-Royce Art Program: José Parlá, Roots

José Parlá is the latest artist to join Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Art Programme. During this year’s Art Basel in Miami Beach, once again the brand has found a home for its initiative, following the site specific installation by Isaac Julien presented in 2015, in the National YoungArts Foundation’s Jewel Box.  Rolls Royce has partnered with Savannah College of Art and Design to commission the exhibition, titled “Roots”.

The artist was born in Miami and educated ad Dade Community College as well as at Savannah College of Art & Design. “Roots” focuses on his ties Miami as his hometown and to the institutions where he studied, where his career as an artist began, and the Bacardi family’s relationship with his own family in Cuba. The exhibition will travel to the SCAD Museum of Art in 2017.

“It’s thrilling to unveil a new creation for the Rolls-Royce Art Programme while returning to my hometown. Together with Rolls-Royce and SCAD I’ve created a spectacular installation for YoungArts Foundation’s iconic Jewel Box, a place where I’ve seen so many young artists soak in inspiration. It’s a privilege to support the arts and future artists and it is a great privilege for me to create this work for the Rolls-Royce Art Programme under the global spotlight of Art Basel Miami Beach.” he stated.