Vespa as work of art

Fancy getting your hands on a one off Vespa with a paint scheme by one the of the UK’s top artists? Then get down to the Art Vespa Auction next Tuesday for a choice of five.

The paint schemes might not be to everyone’s taste but they are painted by some of the best artists in the country and all proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Action on Addiction charity.

All the scooters are Vespa GT200s and you get a choice of five one off artworks from the likes of Turner Prize nominated artist Gary Hume.

Hume’s GT is probably the tamest of the lot using simple colours ‘inspired by a summer he spent in Rome’. Whereas Gavin Turk’s ‘Auto-Destructive Art’ looks like it is covered in a load of squashed street debris.

Turk: “My design for the ArtVespa uses everyday products which often end up being run over in roads by scooters. The end products used in my design can almost be said to have been made by a scooter in that they are squashed packages.”

Vespa’s have been customised by artists since the 60’s and Salvador Dali’s 1962 Vespa is now the most valuable scooter in the world and is currently on display at the Vespa Museum in Pontedera, Italy

If you plan on riding one of these eyecatchers on the road then it’s at your own risk. Piaggio has donated the bikes as works of art rather then road-going bikes and isn’t offering any kind of warranty.

You will be able to view the bikes at the EyeStorm Gallery in London from Novemer 23 and the Auction will take place at Sketch in Mayfair on the evening of November 30. For more details or to place and advanced bid click here