Former Indianapolis Art Center Board Member Walter Knabe Selected as the Official Artist of the 2010 Indianapolis 500
Indiana-based artist, Walter Knabe, is making history at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) this May. Knabe is the first Indiana-based artist ever to be selected as the Official Artist of the Indianapolis 500. Knabe shares this prestigious honor with other nationally and internationally renowned artists, such as Peter Max in 2003 and LeRoy Neiman in 2005. Walter Knabe’s original painting depicting the most famous race in the world will be unveiled at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway this month and will become part of the permanent collection at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
To commemorate this event, Knabe has created 10 variations of the painting and an edition of 33 screenprints. Supporting local charity, and galleries, Knabe’s hand-signed limited edition pieces will be available for purchase at Editions Limited Gallery in Broad Ripple, ARTBOX in the Stutz Building downtown, and Evan Laurie Gallery, in Carmel. As well you can find these pieces on display at participating downtown hotels including Conrad, Canterbury and Omni. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Knabe’s charity of choice, The Julian Center, an organization that provides shelter and counseling to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and survivors of child sexual abuse and has recently added the protection and support to the victims of human trafficking to their services. In addition, the Indianapolis 500 winner will be awarded an Impact racing helmet adorned with Knabe’s artwork and a second helmet will be donated to the Riley Hospital for Children.
The screenprint techniques Knabe used on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway pieces he acquired during his 5 years of work in New York at “The Factory” with the most collected artist in the world, Andy Warhol. Both Warhol and pop artist Keith Haring commissioned Knabe to create artwork for them, American icons Madonna and Michael Jordan followed suit.
To find out more about Walter Knabe and his work, as well as a list of galleries where you can find Knabe’s art, visit http://www.walterknabe.com.
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