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

By Jeff Glucker Jan 2, 2020

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.

By 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

12 thoughts on “Hooniverse Asks: Do you have a favorite piece of art from Syd Mead?”
  1. 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

    1. 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

    2. 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

  2. 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.

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