A Bentley Bentayga and Ink Slinger Bang Bang Blew Up Miami Art Week

Defined by beauty and driven by distinction, Bentley's artistic expressions continue to tap into the mindset of luxury connoisseurs across the globe. Represented by thoughtful design, innovation, and craftsmanship, the British brand immersed its core values with the innovative creativity of Miami Art Week 2024, which set a festive and energetic tone.

The Miami Art Scene

Miami Art Week is a diverse gathering of creative minds, celebrities, and industry professionals seeking refreshed ideologies from novel collections hosted at art museums, galleries, and fairs throughout Miami Beach, Wynwood, and downtown Miami. The glamorous and entertaining backdrop is the perfect setting for a getaway to revel in the profuse amount of visual installations, abstract paintings, and mixed-media sculptures. Key showcases were Art Basel, Design Miami, the AfriKin Art Fair, and SCOPE Miami Beach, the premiere gathering of curators and enthusiasts collaborating to exchange imaginative viewpoints.

Bentley Creativity in Miami

While celebrating in the form of artistry through automotive excellence, Bentley hosted a trifecta of engagements consisting of a tour of the opulent Bentley Residences in Sunny Isles Beach, an Art in Motion party with famed tattoo artist Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy, and a nostalgic test drive of the meticulously designed Bentley Blower Jr. The multisensory activities kept me occupied and simultaneously inquisitive about what life is like from the perspective of a Bentley owner, especially after sitting down and interviewing Bang Bang. He is extremely excited about representing the automotive curator from Crewe, England.

Bentley chose the chic Kimpton Angler’s Hotel in Miami Beach as its headquarters while hand-crafted Bentley Continental GTs, Bentaygas, and Flying Spurs lined the valet. It’s one thing to be driven by these precious British chariots, but taking the wheel, of say, the definitive Bentayga SUV was perfect for touring town while both admiring and being admired. 

For a glamorous and social dinner, reserve a table at Catch Miami Beach to end the evening. The elaborate and delectable culinary experience should be on your next Miami agenda. Specifically, you must indulge in the vegan pecan pie to satisfy your soul!

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ART in Motion with Keith “Bang Bang” McCurdy

With much respect, Keith received the title of “the most famous tattoo artist in the world” by Vogue magazine. Of course, this honor elevated his body art platform to another plateau. His clients and friends include Lebron James, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, Adele, and Selena Gomez. When asked how the partnership manifested, Bang Bang pointedly stated that you pick up the phone when Bentley calls. Bentley sought him out for his renowned storytelling abilities and versatile styles that shape specific approaches to nurturing meaningful collaborations.

Headquartered in New York City, his company, Bang Bang Tattoo, brings clientele visions to life. The goal of the union with Bentley is to integrate his visual concepts and ink technology with Bentley's Mulliner personalization program. Dubbed Magic Ink, the revolutionary technology allows users to turn their tattoos on and off using specific wavelengths of light. Bang Bang says it's the world’s first rewritable, erasable, and reprogrammable tattoo ink. Brilliant!

“This is an exciting exploration of the realm of artistic customization in an entirely new medium,” said Bang Bang. “Bentley offers a canvas as luxurious and transformative as my tattoo art. This project allows us to create a masterpiece that celebrates individuality in motion.”

For the Art in Motion reveal, Bentley selected Temple House in South Beach for hundreds of Miami’s finest to enjoy the vibe and witness the partnership announcement. Featuring a display of three impressive vehicles, a Bentley Bentayga EWB Mulliner was the highlight of the evening. 

The luxury SUV is the pinnacle of self-expression and unrivaled craftsmanship and sets a new benchmark for aficionados of the legendary brand. It was outfitted in a UV vehicle wrap featuring patented ultraviolet printing similar to Bang Bang's Magic Ink. The joint blueprint was led by Bang Bang and Bentley Mulliner designers, including Rich Morris who flew in from England for the celebration. Bentayga is the first vehicle built under Bentley’s “Beyond100” business plan, with "100" signifying the company’s historical 1919 debut. The next installation project between Bentley and Bang Bang drops in 2025.

Bentley Residences in Sunny Isles Beach: Distinctive Living

Sunny Isles Beach is your escape from the hustle of South Beach in exchange for luxuriant relaxation, world-class shopping, or seaside fine dining. Its two miles of white sandy beaches in northeast Miami-Dade County offer idyllic views from towering condominium resorts. The transformative living space in Sunny Isles Beach is perfect for the newfound Bentley Residences, with expected completion toward the end of 2027. Our Miami Art Week itinerary incorporated a private tour of one of the models that highlights owners' expectations from the 62-story building and its endless 5-star amenities.

One of the keystone highlights of Bentley Residences is the car lifts that transport residents from the driveway directly into their glass-ensconced sky garages. Subsequently, the ability to admire your Bentley like a timeless piece of art is granted. Bentley Residences sets a precedent for Bentley customers to harness the heritage and prestige of the auto brand while admiring the Atlantic Ocean from the oversized balcony or terrace, oceanfront pool deck, or living room. The development team consists of Bentley designers, Sieger Suarez Architects, Dezer Development, and the Dezer Platinum Realty sales and marketing team who will proudly sell you a floor plan starting at $5.6 million.

The classy, elegant, and sophisticated residential tower infuses sustainable materials and features a lushly landscaped beach club, wellness and revitalization spa, whiskey bar, cigar lounge, 14-person cinema, and an oceanfront beauty salon. Celebrity chef Todd English has been commissioned to create the menu and ambiance for the private restaurant. 

I did not want to depart after my tour and lunch at the Bentley Residences. The purifying craftmanship between the two brands creates unforgettable moments you only wish to extend indefinitely.

Back to the Future with the Bentley Blower Jr

Before leaving the Bentley Residences, I was able to test drive the road-legal, 85 percent scaled Bentley Blower Jr built by Hedley Studios. It is a recreation of the 1929 Bentley Blower race car. The classic artisan-crafted carbon fiber body (aluminum hood) gets going from an all-electric 48-volt powertrain that is ready to roll once fully charged. Fashion editor Christina Holevas and I found the vehicle a joy to drive on the road as the cool Miami breeze took direct swipes at our faces while onlookers admired with curiosity. The Bentley spirit is kept alive through these limited-edition masterpieces which are also customizable through the Mulliner program.

As you can see, Bentley’s footprint on Miami Art Week 2024 was defining, extraordinary, and memorable. The British automaker knows how to cater to the distinguished men and women who honor them like royalty. See you next year in the Magic City.

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