Thousands of neon signs across the U.S. have fallen into disrepair and neon art has shifted from a cultural mainstay to vintage afterthought, but Bulleit (Diageo) looks to champion its reemergence with an innovative neon collection.
Bulleit introduced the Neon In A Bottle art collection, a Bulleit Frontier Works collaboration with preeminent neon artist Lisa Schulte for exclusive sale via Saatchi Art.
This limited-edition collection will be the first neon art collection ever sold by Saatchi Art and features words and phrases inside Bulleit Bourbon bottles that celebrate the frontier spirit. Each NEON In A Bottle piece of art features neon glass which is hand-blown by Schulte and crafted into works of art, then meticulously inserted into the brand’s classic frontier-inspired bottle.
Earlier this year, Bulleit teamed up with Schulte and artist Brendan Donnelly to construct a 26-ft. wide dynamic neon billboard in downtown Los Angeles at the historic Grand Central Market. As the inaugural Frontier Works NEON project, the sign sparked a passion in Bulleit to further champion the lost art of neon and showcase the craft on a larger scale.
Saatchi Art’s neon collection includes 13 neon bottles alongside a number of vibrant neon artworks by Schulte and select Saatchi Art artists. Art collectors and design enthusiasts are able to purchase the entire collection or shop piece by piece beginning today via www.saatchiart.com/bulleitneoncollection. Prices will vary across the collection, but each NEON In A Bottle artwork will be sold for $1,000.00, including shipping.
“Art is an expression of who we are and who we want to be,” said Schulte. “For me, that’s a constant desire to live on the edge of the modern cultural frontier. From the form and function of the Bulleit bottle to the inspirational messages that live within, that’s what I’ve tried to create with NEON In A Bottle.”
Proceeds from every Neon In A Bottle art sold will go to The Museum of Neon Art to revitalize the lost art of neon bending. Starting with the Bulleit NEON billboard in LA featuring more than a dozen LA-inspired designs, Bulleit is committed to preserving neon culture through the restoration and creation of new neon art. To additionally ensure this valued art form is celebrated, Bulleit plans to engage in neon sign restoration projects across the United States.