Bernd Luz: From Bond to Boeing - A Pop Artist's Journey Through Cars, Cinema, and Flight
In his James Bond artworks, the pop artist and color poet with gasoline in his blood merges his artistic vision with his passions for classic vehicles and cinema.
Internationally acclaimed pop artist Bernd Luz merges his passion for iconic vehicles, historic aviation, and classic cinema into compelling artistic creations. His distinctive media mix technique transforms familiar images into vibrant works of art, from James Bond's legendary Aston Martins to pioneering aircraft that changed the course of history.
My friend Bernd presented his James Bond PopArt Series on December 6, 2024 at the Walentowski Galerie am Sonnenplatz in Baden-Baden. Gallery director Harald Noll organized and hosted a Bond evening featuring works from Luz's "Movies & Motors" series.
Based on Ian Fleming's novels and stories, these Bond films have captivated movie enthusiasts for decades. From Sean Connery to Roger Moore to Daniel Craig, each actor has brought their unique interpretation to Fleming's iconic character, with classics like "From Russia with Love" and "Spectre" standing out as personal favorites.
Recognized internationally, Luz uniquely combines his artistic vision with three passions: classic vehicles, historic racing, and aviation. His enthusiasm for 007 shines through his artwork, particularly in his treatment of the iconic vehicles - the legendary Aston Martins and classic Lotus models that have become synonymous with Bond.
Beyond automotive themes, Luz's 2020 "Legends of Aviation" PopArt series, exhibited throughout Germany, honored aviation pioneers and celebrated milestone achievements in flight history. The series included my portrait, featuring the Boeing 787 I flew - bridging the gap between the Wright brothers' first flight and modern aviation.
I was honored to write an introduction to his Aviation Exhibit:
"Bernd Luz's work is beautiful and inspiring. It distracts us, if only momentarily, from life's tedium. It soothes and revives the soul. Without art, our path through life would be dark and turbulent. To me, a former pilot, it is analogous to flight, lifting the soul to new heights, reaching out to new horizons.
Great art brings to mind a quote by Wilbur Wright: 'It is possible to fly without motors, but not without knowledge and skill.' Wilbur and Orville, his younger brother, made the first heavier-than-air, self-propelled flight on Dec. 17, 1903. Orville piloted the craft and Wilbur ran alongside. The flight lasted 12 seconds but inspired the world. Every modern aircraft that crisscrosses the world's skies was fathered that day, obeying the same principle of lift and three-axis control that the Wright brothers harnessed over a century ago.
Like any great discovery or invention, art requires knowledge and skill—and more, a creative and passionate spirit to inspire the soul."
— Vaughn Cordle
In his Bond artworks, this pop artist and color poet with gasoline in his blood creates a unique fusion of art and passion. His innovative media mix technique, combining acrylic-painted backgrounds with sophisticated collages, brings new life to both classic films like "Goldfinger" and contemporary entries such as "Skyfall".
Link to Bernd Luz's James Bond series: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1081130340159615
