As Monaco braces for the annual Grand Prix spectacle, acclaimed Brazilian artist Marcos Marín is set to transform the intimate setting of Marius restaurant into a vibrant celebration of Formula One’s most iconic figures.
The exhibition, titled ‘F1 Icons’, opens to the public on 26th May and features more than three dozen sculptures, paintings, silkscreens and kinetic totems that capture the essence of motorsport’s greatest legends through Marín ‘s distinctive optical style.
“Formula One is absolutely the heart of Monaco,” Marín told Monaco Life. “This exhibition is about friendship—my friendship with this ancient restaurant, with Annette who runs it, and with the racing community I’ve become connected to over my 16 years living here.”
The Brazilian artist’s connection to Formula One’s rich heritage began 11 years ago through his admiration for racing legend Ayrton Senna. Commissioned to create a commemorative sculpture for the 25th anniversary of Senna’s passing, Marín crafted a three-metre-high tribute that stands at the entrance to Marius and bears the signatures of both Prince Albert II of Monaco and Viviane Senna, the driver’s sister.
“The place of the heart of Ayrton Senna was Monaco, the place that he won the competitions. He belongs to the history of Monaco,” Marín revealed, highlighting the special relationship between the Brazilian champion and the Principality.
What makes Marín’s work particularly captivating is his innovative approach to portraiture. His depiction of Fernando Alonso stands as the artist’s personal favourite in the collection, employing a technique that creates the illusion of movement through carefully positioned static lines.
“I create a kind of kinetic colour and forms—it’s a fake movement. It’s not kinetic, it’s static, but we have the impression of movement,” Marín explained. “Our brain recomposes the image, and you see perfectly the face, even the small details.”
Celebrating diversity in motorsport
The exhibition notably breaks new ground by celebrating the often-overlooked female pioneers of Formula One. Visitors will find striking portraits of Maria Teresa de Filippis, who made history as the first woman to compete in Formula One when she raced at the 1958 Monaco Grand Prix in a Maserati 250F. Contemporary female drivers like Bianca Bustamante are also featured.
“When we were brainstorming the show, we asked ourselves, ‘How about the women drivers?'” Marín said. “It’s so important to highlight this aspect of Formula One history.”
The collection represents something of a departure for Marín, who typically works on much larger canvases. “I was looking to do a different kind of show here,” he confided. “This intimate space at Marius has given me the opportunity to showcase work I rarely exhibit—pieces created exclusively for this venue.”
The exhibition forms part of Marius Monaco’s ambitious new ‘Art of Storytelling’ initiative, which aims to transform the restaurant into an evolving cultural space where selected artists can share narratives through immersive visual experiences.
See also:
Artistic legacy unveiled: Cocteau-Moretti collaboration showcased at Marius
Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.