Do you have Designer/Studio Artwork that needs a new home?

October 25, 2024 5 CommentsArtwork and Books, Car Design

What to do with Designer/Studio Artwork.

Occasionally I get emails about studio artwork.

Designers often keep their artwork. But relatives or others that have been given or inherited studio sketches are challenged by properly storing sometimes large format studio art to prevent deterioration. They would like to know what to do with it.

I also get emails by individuals that want to sell artwork and want to know what it’s worth.

The consensus is that Designer/Studio artwork should be preserved, and not sold.

Artwork is more valuable historically as a body of work, rather than as individual pieces, as it tells a broader story about its creator, the contributions they made, and the programs illustrated.

What to do with Designer/Studio artwork?

Ensure that your work is documented for the historic record. Your best course of action is work with the archives at the appropriate OEM. Many of you may have already been in contact with the GM Design Archive & Special Collections to document your collections. The other OEMs have corporate archives as well who might be willing to assist. If you are uncomfortable doing this, have the individual pieces professionally photographed, then make the photos available to an appropriate institution.

Once documented, keep the artwork within the family, and store it properly to avoid further deterioration.

If the family is uninterested in maintaining the artwork, donate it to an institution that will honor its creators and make it publicly available for research and display. If the artwork must be shipped, inquire as to the best way to package it.

Gather as much information as you have about the creator of the artwork, time frame, and history.

Contact Dean’s Garage with specifics. I will forward appropriate requests to one of several organizations.

5 Comments

October 26, 2024 at 10:17 am

Ronald Will

I have another take on what to do with all of our design sketches.

I was lucky enough to leave GM with a large portion of my old sketches. I have no illusion that my body of work is worthy of keeping it together as a single entity. Even famous artists sell their work and have them spread around the world. I chose to frame several of my sketches and gave them to my grandkids. My son and daughter also get a few of my best drawings.

I also donated two of my Corvette sketches to a worthy charity that was able to get $600 for them. The Corvette museum also showed some of my Corvette drawings and they will get to keep them. As for keeping the work together, I did send most of my work to GM and they did high resolution scans and returned the originals with a disc copy of the scans. I used these scans to make books with Shutterfly of many of my best pieces. The books were given to my kids and are easier to look at compared to a pile of sketches in a drawer. I also did sell quite a few of my drawings to collectors and museums who seem to appreciate them.

Keeping my drawings together where they will sit idle in a drawer or file was not an option for me. I would rather have my work our there where it can be seen and appreciated, wherever it ends up. Ron Will
October 26, 2024 at 12:05 pm

Jim Shook

I have a lot of sketches from my G.M. days. I would like to find a new home for them.
October 26, 2024 at 12:07 pm

Bill Schley

I have a rendering done by Larry Nicklin, of Fort Wayne/Leo IN, who was a designer for Chrysler and Studebaker Design Team. Larry Nicklin, was one of the founders of the Ferrari Club of America . How do I send a photo?
October 27, 2024 at 7:53 am

Glen Durmisevich

The Detroit Institute of Art has a new curator for Aitomotive, Industrial Design and Decorative Art. Shelly Selim already had many piece donated from Julie Hyde Edwards and would gladly accept donations or may even purchase some. Contact the DIA for more information. And Homer LaGassey said our artwork would never hang in the Louvre. Getting there.
October 27, 2024 at 1:40 pm

Jeffrey B. Goldstein

The Piston Palace is a private museum that features original automotive concept car art with exhibits featuring styling models and Fisher Body Craftsman’s Guild models. Our automobile exhibit includes a recreation of a 1950’s car dealer showroom. We would appreciate the opportunity to bid on any original concept car art that becomes available.
Thank you for your consideration, Jeffrey B. Goldstein, founder
Jeff@pistonpalace.com
http://www.pistonpalace.com
Please watch our You Tube videos for more info or reach out with an email. Click on the links below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xztjvwxc12w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb-NnGzZyOI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlK_fAvBcDY

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Book is excellent reading. I like all the practical jokes that you played on each other. Haven’t put it down yet.

Paul Alflen
Gary, Just received your book and read part of it, and can’t wait to finish it! EXCELLENT BOOK WOW! Thanks!

Carl Kofron
It’s a book whose pages you’ll return to again and again…sometimes just to look, other times to read and learn and to laugh!

Helen Hutchings
It brought back so many memories. The book captures some of the antics that took place. I recommend Gary’s book for anyone that has an interest to get a glimpse of an era long gone.

John Manoogian II
Very impressed with the emphasis on the “people stories.” Most people think of GM in terms of the cars, whereas you focused on the designers that created the cars. Congratulations on your excellent and personable narrative.

Roy Lonberger
Great book! It will provide many hours of interesting reading. Thank you for writing and publishing it!

Charles Pieier
All the wonderful anecdotes and photos bring laughter and smiles of recollection of the years at GM Design. The other content is equally entertaining, too! One can keep returning to its pages, finding a new topic of interest each time.

George Camp
Gary’s book focuses on the people who drove designs and events at GM Design. It is always informative, sometimes funny and sometimes sad. Picture are breathtaking. Extremely well done.

James Rice
Thank you Gary for this wonderful publication vicariously delivering the human condition nectar recalled from the good old days at GM Design.

Bill Boudreau
Closest thing to an actual time machine I have experienced! The photos, quotes and artwork really transported me back to what was a fabulous time at GM Design.

Len Casillo
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed The Future is Back. Great stories and wonderful comments! Excellent selection of illustrations and photos!

Peter Brock
The book is providing lots of interesting reading along with so many great photos, illustrations and renderings.

Sheldon Payne
It’s like going to a family reunion and meeting all your old friends, the studios and the models all over again. I can almost smell the fresh clay reading your book.

Ron Will
Reading the stories and anecdotes of designers who shared their experiences in this book allowed me to vicariously imagine what it would have actually been like to have worked in a studio. Thumbs Up Gary!!

Steve Sicklick
Great book Gary. It’s like taking a trip down memory lane!

Dennis Burke
I’ve enjoyed the Dean’s Garage book. I know a lot of the designers and places you mention; it’s like a reunion or old-home week.Thank you very much for putting everything together in such a beautifully organized, fun, illuminating way.

Michael Lamm