The Facts
Almine Rech will exhibit a 1/1 helmet created by artist Michael Kagan for Francesco Castellacci, a Ferrari endurance driver for Scuderia Vista AF Corse. Working with Jota Designs, Kagan produced an archive of original paint-stroke swatches in his New York studio, which were translated onto Castellacci's Bell Racing helmet. The driver wore the helmet at the 6 Hours of Lone Star Le Mans at COTA. Starting December 2026, the helmet will be on view at Almine Rech, continuing its journey as a piece of art.
The Signal
The collaboration bridges contemporary art and motorsport, placing Kagan's gestural painting style onto a functional object worn in competition. For collectors, it underscores the growing market for artist-designed functional works and limited editions, while for the gallery it extends its program into experiential, non-traditional exhibition contexts. The display at Almine Rech positions the helmet as a standalone artwork, signaling the gallery's interest in cross-disciplinary projects that expand the definition of a collectible object.
- Artists: Michael Kagan
- People: Francesco Castellacci
- Galleries: Almine Rech
- Locations: New York, Austin
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