5 Times Lexus Inspired Art

Lexus vehicles are so luxuriously designed that they look like works of art themselves.  These artists took the next step in creating something that’s truly unique yet still undeniably Lexus.

1. The LF-A Crystallized Wind

This Lexus LF-A Crystallized Wind is a concept car made entirely of acrylic glass that was showcased during Milan Design Week in 2009. The concept and design were envisioned and executed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. The Crystallized Wind looks exceptionally cool when blue light runs through and bounces off of its interior and exterior surfaces.

2. The Cardboard IS

This origami-inspired Lexus is made almost entirely out of cardboard, right down to the lug nuts and decals. Actually, it has a steel and aluminum frame and, of course, an electric motor, which is what makes this cardboard IS actually driveable.  1,700 pieces of cardboard were precision-cut, following the same design files used to make an actual Lexus IS.  This is clearly why the end result looks so close to the real thing. Lexus certainly achieved their goal of celebrating the things that make their cars unique.

3. Icy NX

Have you ever woken up one morning and imagined what it would be like for your Lexus NX to have wheels made of ice? Well, this vision became a reality this year when professional ice sculpting team Hamilton Ice Sculptors worked with Lexus to create these functional ice wheels.  The sculptors used a laser scan to replicate the NX’s wheels, etching every detail down to the tread patterns into place. They incorporated LEDs into the wheels as well as acrylic parts to support the weight of the NX. The NX was actually frozen at -30°C for five days before being taken out and test-driven in a controlled area. This is definitely what Mr. Freeze in Batman would have driven!

4. “An Encounter with Anticipation” by Formafantasma

Italian designers Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin make up Formafantasma. They created this piece, titled, “An Encounter with Anticipation,” for the Lexus Design Award 2016 event. Materials like car paint, stainless steel, cast resin, cotton fabric and pine wood were used to create the illusion of the new model Lexus LF-FC being 3D printed in thin air. The hanging threads are suspended from a platform that’s held up by four stainless steel supports which move up and down to reveal the full picture. From idea to execution, this piece is truly mesmerizing. Click here for additional pictures of this installation.

5. The CT Umbra

What you’re seeing in the image above is 2,500 aluminum lacquered tips coming together to form a replica of the Lexus CT 200h. This art piece, created by a group called Nondesigns in 2010, is titled “CT Umbra” and was commissioned to raise awareness about green issues for Lexus’ “Darker Side of Green” debate series. The lacquered bars are painted and illuminated in such a way that as you walk around the car sculpture, its appearance changes from yellow to blue and vice versa. While this concept is not the first of its kind, Nondesigns definitely succeeded in pulling off the effect for Lexus. Click here for more photos of CT Umbra.

Which Lexus work of art is your favorite? Share your thoughts here in the forum.

For do-it-yourself guides on the Lexus IS and other Lexus models, please see our how-to articles at https://www.clublexus.com/how-tos/.