Sam Bass
Sam Bass is one of the most accomplished artists in the history of American motorsports. His penchant for combining the riveting aspects of fine art and innovative graphic design has made Bass – the first artist officially licensed by NASCAR – a favorite with fans and competitors alike.
The talented illustrator has captured auto racing’s more poignant moments and its engaging personalities on canvas for over 20 years. Bass is also recognized as the sport’s most prolific designer. He has created paint schemes for a number of top teams, having worked with such notables as Richard Childress Racing, Hendrick Motorsports, Dale Earnhardt, Inc., and Petty Enterprises. He has designed transporters, uniforms, helmets, souvenir program covers, trading cards, trophies, collectible die-casts, game boards, sponsor packaging and even guitars. When it comes to motorsports art, Sam Bass has just about covered it all.
Born in Hopewell, Va., Bass grew up in a hotbed of NASCAR competition. As a youngster, he spent many a Saturday evening at Southside Speedway in Richmond. And while fostering a deep love for racing, he was also honing his innate skills as an artist.
Bass’ introduction to big time auto racing came in 1981, when he traveled to Alabama to present a portrait to his boyhood hero, Bobby Allison. That meeting led to commissions from other drivers. And seven years later, Bass would design his first paint scheme – for the car Allison drove to victory in the Daytona 500. In the years since, the list of drivers who have raced Bass color schemes reads like a Who’s Who in stock car history: Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Rusty Wallace, Jimmie Johnson, Terry Labonte, Kyle Petty, and dozens more.
“Richard Petty Blueprint,” released in 1988, was Bass’ first limited edition print. The overwhelming popularity of that composition so enhanced the collectibility of motorsports art that it encouraged him to offer more lithographs to the fans. Working from a beautiful gallery and studio in Concord, N.C., he has created nearly 300 illustrations for limited edition prints and, to this day, Sam Bass prints rank among the most coveted of all NASCAR memorabilia. “The Magnificent Seven!” a 1994 piece featuring Dale Earnhardt is perhaps the most recognizable painting of his career thus far – an edition of 1,000 prints sold out in a matter of weeks.
Bass’ creative influence can be seen throughout the depth and breadth of NASCAR racing. America’s corporate giants have called on his artistic expertise to complement their motorsports programs including the likes of Miller Brewing, DuPont, General Motors, General Mills, Sony Pictures, Goodyear, Gibson Guitars – the list is endless.
NASCAR itself called upon Bass to create commemorative artwork for its 2003 Victory Lap program honoring past champions. He has worked with the sanctioning body on its Drive For Diversity campaign. Bass is also involved with a number of charities, such as Kyle Petty’s Charity Ride Across America., Speedway Children’s Charities, and the Jeff Gordon Foundation.
Much of the artist’s expansive portfolio has been documented in his book, “The NASCAR Art of Sam Bass”.
Sam Bass strives to constantly change the way we see NASCAR. From his perspective it’s all about what racing looks like.
