Hooniverse Asks: Do you have a favorite piece of art from Syd Mead?

Jeff Glucker

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For some time, that image above was the background on my computer. It was eventually replaced by another image, but both are by the same artist; Syd Mead. The godfather of retro-futuristic art created some truly stunning pieces that helped define a generation of film, album covers, television, advertising, and the people that consumed those things.

There’s no doubt his style had an impact on a generation of artists to follow. Simon Stålenhag comes to mind.

If you want a deeper look at his artwork, check out The Movie Art of Syd Mead: Visual Futurist. Also, Jason Torchinsky has a lovely obituary for the man over on Jalopnik. Syd Mead passed away on December 30th, 2019. He was 86 years old.

To celebrate Mr Mead, I’d love to see some of your favorite pieces of art created by Syd. Share them in the comments.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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12 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: Do you have a favorite piece of art from Syd Mead?”

  1. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    “Highway of Tomorrow” has been in my desktop wallpaper rotation for a long time.

    https://live.staticflickr.com/4360/35769451953_c7a88bc6b9_b.jpg

    Reply
  2. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    It’s hard to pick a favorite, I’d probably go with something from American Steel like the last picture in the article for nostalgia value, but this one is interesting in seeing the loop of influence close – it was comissioned for Honda in 2004 as a “bikes of the future” kind of thing. It makes obvious reference to the Akira motorcycle, which in turn was originally influenced by the Tron light cycles designed by Mead.

    http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Syd-Mead-Honda-2004.jpg

    Reply
    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      That brings to mind another great artist, Daniel Simon:

      http://danielsimon.com/wallpapers/page/2/

      Reply
  3. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    “Highway of Tomorrow” has been in my desktop wallpaper rotation for a long time.

    https://live.staticflickr.com/4360/35769451953_c7a88bc6b9_b.jpg

    Reply
  4. Rover 1 Avatar
    Rover 1

    The Sentinel, what could have happened if the Aston Martin Lagonda wedge limo had been further developed by Cadillac.

    https://www.promotex.ca/articles/cawthon/2003/images/12-01-2003-6b.jpg

    or the similar Rolls Royce proposed in 1967 (!!!)

    http://www.carstyling.ru/resources/entries/3640/Syd-Mead-Future-Rolls-Royce-1967-Cover-for-Automobile-Quarterly-Magazine.jpg

    Reply
    1. salguod Avatar
      salguod

      I was just about to post the Sentinel. It manages to look like it’s straight out of 1972 and 2072 at the same time.

      Reply
    2. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Any excuse to repost these Hot Wheels versions, the normally crazy hype world of diecast collecting hasn’t gone crazy for these yet so they can still be found on ebay for reasonable prices. I need to pick up a cinemachines blade runner spinner to add to the collection, but they were crazy money last I checked.

      https://scontent-dub4-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/73455993_147290329897135_273350911501267940_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=4R9MNzaNxRIAX-dqRuE&oh=1e74bd78990b1f3c8e06048784063470&oe=5E964E18

      Reply
    3. crank_case Avatar
      crank_case

      Any excuse to repost these Hot Wheels versions, the normally crazy hype world of diecast collecting hasn’t gone crazy for these yet so they can still be found on ebay for reasonable prices. I need to pick up a cinemachines blade runner spinner to add to the collection, but they were crazy money last I checked.

      https://scontent-dub4-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/73455993_147290329897135_273350911501267940_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=107&_nc_ohc=4R9MNzaNxRIAX-dqRuE&oh=1e74bd78990b1f3c8e06048784063470&oe=5E964E18

      Reply
      1. Rover 1 Avatar
        Rover 1

        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ce2f4402eb28dbbd4aca7ad279771fcfdc8a9a04f17932a02a8652d241d2e8b3.jpg

        There is this mid engine supercar from the US Steel proposals, from 1969, a whole year before Paolo Martin’s Modulo for Pininfarina.
        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/603b4e3d578fd1c12162698be06bf2698b07a68f9b7dd91b96cd4fc8845f6ba5.jpg The Modulo pictured with it’s styling buck on which the body panels were formed.

        Reply
      2. Rover 1 Avatar
        Rover 1

        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/ce2f4402eb28dbbd4aca7ad279771fcfdc8a9a04f17932a02a8652d241d2e8b3.jpg

        There is this mid engine supercar from the US Steel proposals, from 1969, a whole year before Paolo Martin’s Modulo for Pininfarina.
        https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/603b4e3d578fd1c12162698be06bf2698b07a68f9b7dd91b96cd4fc8845f6ba5.jpg The Modulo pictured with it’s styling buck on which the body panels were formed.

        Reply
        1. crank_case Avatar
          crank_case

          Fantastic, literally. 🙂

          Reply
  5. salguod Avatar
    salguod

    I believe his preferred media for the final color renderings was gouache. It’s a water passed paint which had been used for a lot of architectural renderings. It has a distinctive look with bright colors and whites.

    I took a class in gouache in design school and it’s really difficult. I did not have the patience for it and, even in 1991, there wasn’t much call for it in the design world any more.

    Reply