Antoine Dufilho and Bugatti: pure luxury
Bugatti: the story begins with Jacques Dufilho
Antoine Dufilho’s love affair with Bugatti didn’t begin in a workshop, but at his great-uncle’s home in the Gers. Jacques Dufilho. A famous French actor, Jacques was also a passionate collector of classic cars. In particular, he owned two emblematic models: a 1926 Bugatti Type 37A and a 1936 Type 57 Stelvio.
It was against this backdrop of bodywork, Grand Prix tales and mechanical parts that young Antoine forged his sensibility. Automotive objects became a language, a vector of emotion. This strong family link with the Bugatti brand nurtured his artistic eye, long before he turned it into a creative medium.
A singular journey, from architecture to automotive sculpture
Trained at theLille School of Architecture and Landscape Design, Antoine has developed a passion for framework, emptiness and light. His architectural approach to sculpture has given rise to an instantly recognizable style: a play of openwork metal strata that recreates form while making it vibrant. He works inaluminum andpolished stainless steel, plays with welding and shapes the void into an active material.
Vivacity, the sculptural interpretation of the Veyron
Among his creations, Vivacity is the most emblematic of his Bugatti tributes. Inspired by the Veyron, this monumental sculpture transposes the supercar’s aesthetic into akinetic art object. Layers of polished aluminum outline the silhouette while allowing the eye to pass through. The result? An impression of permanent movement, a structure in tension, a suspended elegance.
On display in Vila Real, Portugal, until the end of September 2025, Vivacity celebrates the controlled excess and aerodynamics of the supercar, without ever lapsing into copying. It’s not a scale model, but a plastic reinterpretation of automotive design.
The Atlantic: sculpting a myth
Another major work is the sculpture inspired by the Bugatti Atlantic transposes one of the most legendary models in automotive history into a radical artistic grammar. Built between 1934 and 1940, the Type 57 SC Atlantic is famous for its backbone, streamlined curves and exclusivity (4 examples).
Dufilho recreates this silhouette in metallic strata, playing with light and contrast. He extracts its essence, its fluidity and its anchorage in a certain ideal of French luxury. The result is a dialogue between automotive heritage and contemporary language, in a tension between memory and abstraction.
The Black Car: between tribute and enigma
Inspired by the 2019 Bugatti model, designed as a tribute to a lost Atlantic, La Voiture Noire finds a strong sculptural echo in the artist. In this creation, the front is carved from a solid block of aluminum, while the whole rests on a set of suspended curves. The sculptor explores a darker, more mysterious form, without ever denying the formal rigor of his work.
The density of black, the shine of polished metal, the lightness of voids reveal a vision ofautomotive ultra-luxury, where power becomes abstraction and performance, poetry.
A sculptural, kinetic and architectural approach
These sculptures reflect Antoine Dufilho’s approach to transforming mechanical objects into artistic experiences. His work bridges the gap between the plastic arts, industrial design and architecture. He doesn’t reproduce, he translates. He doesn’t copy, he suggests.
This approach has won over numerous art galleries, collectors and the public, who are sensitive tocontemporary art linked to automotive culture.
Where can you see Dufilho’s work in 2025?
- Vivacity – Vila Real (Portugal) – Until end of September 2025
- Velocity – Nikki Beach, Saint-Tropez – Sculpture inspired by the Veyron (May 15 – July 15 2025)
- Velocity – Blenheim Palace (UK) – Salon Privé (August 26 – September 2, 2025)
- La Voiture Noire – available on request via gallery
- Atlantic – occasionally exhibited in partner galleries
Further information: www.antoinedufilho.com
Follow the artist: Instagram @antoinedufilho
FAQ – Frequently asked questions
Which Bugatti inspired Vivacity?
The Vivacity sculpture is a monumental work inspired by the Bugatti Veyron. It expresses the Veyron’s power, fluidity and design through layers of openwork aluminum.
Does Antoine Dufilho work with Bugatti?
No. He creates in total independence, but with a deep respect for the brand’s heritage.
Why the Atlantic and La Voiture Noire?
These iconic automobiles offer a rare formal richness. Dufilho extracts the essential to offer an artistic, architectural and poetic vision.
Are these works available for purchase?
Yes, through our partner art galleries or by direct request via the official website.
