Spartanburg’s Frankie Zombie Art Appears on NASCAR Cup Series Cars

Frankie Zombie’s portfolio includes bespoke shoes, handbags, furniture and even pianos, all reflecting his unique style.

The Spartanburg-based artist has created art for music moguls like Pharrell Williams, Miley Cyrus, and Celine Dion.

This weekend, the NASCAR Cup Series “Art Cars” feature Frankie Zombie’s creations. His No. 78 Ford driven by BJ MacLeod of Live Fast Motorsports His Mustang will showcase his lap custom of Zombie’s design at Sunday’s race at Miami Homestead Speedway (NBC , 2:30 p.m.).

For Zombie, gaining exposure in the world of NASCAR is a career highlight. A 2007 graduate of Dorman University, he is the first black artist to design an “art car” for a NASCAR driver.

“Every project is different, but this one is very important to me,” Zombie said in a video interview with the Herald Journal on the way to Miami. I remember racing in (Rainbow Warrior) cars, I remember all the colors of all the cars, it was color overload, I was like a kid in a candy store.”

He’s particularly proud of his breakthrough in NASCAR, a sport that struggles with diversity and inclusivity.

“I’ve looked up to someone like Bubba Wallace who’s gone through a lot of culture clashes to feel welcome in the world of NASCAR,” Zombie said. There are many different ways to put it together.”

For Zombie, it’s more than a paint scheme

The Jetsons caught Zombie’s attention as a child. He lived in the Bronx with his aunt and uncle at the time. He is drawn to his bright pastel colors used in classic Hannah Barbera animations, as evidenced by “Art His Car” and throughout his Zombie work.

Besides, futuristic cartoons captured his imagination.

“In the Bronx, about 99% of the people I saw were Black, Hispanic, Puerto Rican, or Asian. I was just daydreaming about this cartoon, recreate your neighbors and act out that scene,” he said. “[In my work]you see a lot of the Jetsons pastel palettes and angles, and I wanted to make it my own.”