In June of 1996, Copro/Nason gallery curated the epic “Von Dutch Tribute exhibition” in honor of the late, legendary Kustom Kulture icon and master craftsman, Von Dutch . This seminal exhibition featured original flying eyeballs, pinstripe panels, monster illustrations, sculptures and a Dutch-built 1947 Kenworth body mounted on a Ford truck chassis. Over 25 artists featured in the the show included Coop, Von Franco, Stanley Mouse, Frank Kozik, Anthony Ausgang and many others who were directly inspired by Von Dutch's painting, pinstriping and awe-inspiring master craftsmanship.
Von Dutch earned his reputation in the 1950's as the premier pinstriper of cars and motorcycles in an age of mushrooming interest in hot rod and kustom car cultures. In the 60's, he focused his expertise on restoring antique motorcycles, developing a regard for machines as works of art. In the 70's he spent time at the Movieworld: Cars of the Stars Museum in Buena Park , CA , where he did everything from scratch-building autos to fabricating their elaborate displays. Through the 80's, his love of craft found new expression in a steam-powered TV set, hand-made guns and approximately 100 knives with exquisite brass etchings, all crafted by hand, without the aid of measuring tools.
Von Dutch (Kenny Howard) died September 19, 1992. In tribute, his work formed the catalyst (along with Ed “Big Daddy” Roth and Robert Williams) for the 1993 Kustom Kulture exhibition at the Laguna Art Museum . This exhibition was the first significant museum show to bring hot rod-influenced artists to the attention of a new audience not used to thinking about automobiles as “Art.”
More than thirteen years later, Von Dutch's art continues to influence a new generation of artists and, as evidenced by the successful clothing line bearing his name, has achieved the status of an internationally recognized brand-name of “hip” popular culture. Von Dutch Tribute II includes many of the artists in the original tribute exhibit, as well as new paying homage to the work that inspired them.
