In light of a creative partnership with one of London’s most exciting art venues, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars lent the Serpentine Galleries a fleet of Phantoms and Ghosts to transport patrons at the Serpentine Summer Party. The annual soirée is a fundraising effort to keep the gallery’s art exhibitions free to the public, in line with the Serpentine’s primary objective to “reach and educate new audiences” through accessible art.

Hosted by Chanel, the exclusive event saw some of the biggest names Alexa Chung, Rita Ora, and British Vogue editor Edward Enninful amongst lush greenery in the Kensington Gardens.

The House of Rolls-Royce Is Committed To The Growth Of Contemporary Art

Rolls-Royce commissions and champions both established and emerging artists through the Rolls-Royce Art Program, which seeks to bring new works and perspective to the art world. To honour the spirit of creative excellence, the program also supports art institutions such as the Rockbund Art Museum in Shanghai, Foundation Beyeler in Switzerland, and National YoungArts Foundation in Miami. Among its prominent calendar of events is Art Talks, a series of exploratory dialogues that facilitates conversations between leading members of the international art community, which guested artists including Karl Lagerfeld, Yang Fudong, and Princess Alia Al-Senussi.

Ian Cheng, Installation view, Serpentine Gallery, London © 2018 Hugo Glendinning

The marque previously collaborated with the Serpentine Galleries in 2015, co-commissioning a digital artwork by American artist Ian Cheng. Cheng returned to the Serpentine this Spring to deliver his first solo show in the UK.

“The Serpentine is thrilled to have the support of Rolls-Royce, helping us to inspire the widest audiences by championing the possibilities of art and architecture.” – Yana Peel, Chief Executive of the Serpentine Galleries.

The temporary Serpentine Pavilion is a courtyard of light, water and geometry

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Hans Ulrich Obrist and Yana Peel, the Serpentine attracts a stream of visitors that rarely visits traditional art galleries. Peel helped transform the gallery’s Pavillion project with a daring and radical approach to art, commissioning temporary installations by a range of world architects each summer at the space. This year, young Mexican architect Frida Escobedo created a sophisticated art space that questioned concepts of time, space, identity, and multiple geographies at the annual Serpentine Pavillion.

Rolls-Royce’s provision of its signature motorcars at the summer party marks the onset of an exciting collaboration, which will officially begin next year.