01/29
Mike O'Connors inaugural exhibition at Dadiani Fine Art of Cork Street, Mayfair, was extended for an unprecedented seven weeks and sold out in the summer of 2017 bringing his work to the worlds attention.
With a Degree in Fine art from Southampton University, he most lately spent almost twenty years within Formula One, and is passionate about the naturally aspirated era.
As an Ex- F1 Demonstration Driver himself, Mike can now be found racing his 1925 Model T Ford Salt Flats Racer at Historic Motorsport Events around Europe, and the US West Coast.
Mike creates the pieces at his cottage workshop in Suffolk, each taking hundreds of hours to finish and using solely the parts of a complete race used F1 exhaust system.
Deliberately reflecting the shape of a musical instrument, the works are a homage to the beautiful noise the highly polished inconel pipework originally created.
The work has been featured in The Sunday Times "How to Spend it" supplement, The Week, Formula Life Magazine, Private Motor Club, Classic Driver, GQ, Octane, and Boat International.
Described by Jonathan Schultz of "The Drive":
"It can be seen as Protest Art, against the disappearance of the noise which made Formula One what it once was. I believe craftsmanship must be at the heart of all great art and these pieces are examples of the finest craftsmanship"
The Week:
"Art Lovers will appreciate the tactic nod to the automotive obsessions of the early 20th century Italian Futurists, to whose sculptures these [pieces] bear an uncanny resemblance"