Stephens sponsors F1 Circuit Racing art exhibit at AMFA

The Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (AMFA) announced Wednesday (July 24) a new art exhibit called Beyond the F1 Circuit: Artistry and Speed with Williams Racing on view from September 5 – 22, 2024. The exhibit is sponsored by Stephens Inc, the official investment banking partner of Williams Racing.

The exhibition explores the interplay of form and function through the lens of high-performance auto design at Williams Racing, one of Formula 1’s most iconic teams.

Featuring an exact replica of a Williams Racing car, and a driver race suit and helmet, the exhibition brings the art of motorsport to AMFA for the first exhibition of its kind in the region.

Accompanying the installation is a film, produced exclusively for the exhibition, that provides a glimpse into the collaboration between AMFA, Williams Racing and Stephens, the show’s sponsor.

It delves into the process and considerations for Williams Racing’s livery design as well as the complexities of the AMFA installation, including the installation of the half-ton racing car in the museum’s atrium.

“Beyond the F1 Circuit: Artistry and Speed with Williams Racing reflects our global view of art and its meaning in all forms. This is an extraordinary opportunity for the public and racing fans to experience the intersection of art and auto. It is an innovative way to think about the world of design as it applies not just to fine art but to objects that range from the mundane to the magnificent,” said Dr. Victoria Ramirez, Executive Director of AMFA.

“We are excited to unite Stephens key partnerships with Williams Racing and AMFA to bring this global sport, and groundbreaking exhibition to Central Arkansas,” said Warren Stephens, Chairman, President, and CEO of Stephens. “This showcase of Williams Racing is a celebration of the thought and creativity from concept to construction required to compete at this level. Exceptional exhibits like this are one of the many reasons we at Stephens are proud to support AMFA.”

Warren Stephens and his wife, Harriet Stephens, led the capital campaign to renew the AMFA campus in downtown Little Rock’s MacArthur Park.

“Williams Racing is always looking for ways to innovate with our partners and bring fans closer to Formula 1 and this exhibition is the perfect example of that,” said James Bower, Commercial Director, Williams Racing. “Iconic liveries are true works of art displayed on a canvas of advanced engineering, and we are delighted to be bringing an exclusive insight into the artistry to Little Rock.”

Beyond the F1 Circuit: Artistry and Speed with Williams Racing, delves into the craftsmanship behind a Formula 1 racecar and the art of fusing performance with aesthetics. Every one of the car’s 20,000 components is designed with meticulous accuracy to enhance speed, efficiency, and aerodynamics, all while constantly balancing strict regulations mandated by the sport.

The exhibition nods to the blurring of lines between fine art and craft, long associated with functional items such as vessels or furniture where contemporary artists are increasingly using the craft medium in their practice.