fbpx

Creating Learjet Art with an $11 Million Paintbrush

Learjet used to create abstract paintings.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Learjet brand, Flexjet partnered with Jet Art’s Princess Tarinan von Anhalt to create one-of-a-kind modern art pieces at West Palm Beach Airport yesterday using the powerful jet blast from a Learjet 45XR as an $11 million dollar “paintbrush.”

Von Anhalt hurled paint into the force of the Learjet’s 3,500-pound-thrust Honeywell TFE731 engine while standing about 50 feet between the Bombardier airplane and her canvas. The heat and velocity from the engine blended the paint onto the canvas, creating unusual abstract paintings.

Since 1981 Jet Art’s works have been credited with bringing Jackson Pollock’s concept of flinging paint onto a canvas into the jet age. Amazingly, these paintings have been sold to collectors for upwards of six figures. Von Anhalt has used a variety of jets for her art including a Boeing 707.

Flexjet, Bombardier’s fractional ownership division, said it will donate one of the works of art to Auction Napa Valley to help raise funds for healthcare, youth service and affordable housing.

Login

New to Flying?

Register

Already have an account?