MACHAS

Andrea Crespi × Ducati

Machas consulted Ducati on how to expand its dialogue with contemporary art, curating a new chapter in its evolving engagement with culture. After identifying a shared vision, we shaped the collaboration around Andrea Crespi’s distinct visual sensibility, highlighting a convergence of velocity, perception, and form.

Crespi—an artist whose practice blends digital technology with traditional craft—brought his vision to the unveiling of the Panigale V4 Tricolore Italia. This collector’s edition, produced in just 163 examples, stands as a testament to the ‘made in Italy’ ethos, uniting cutting-edge engineering with refined design. Its distinctive blue livery—paying homage to the Azzurro of Italy’s national sports teams—debuted at the 2024 Mugello Grand Prix, where Ducati made a historic one-two finish.

At the heart of Crespi’s intervention lies a tension between motion and stillness, technology and emotion. Rather than altering the motorcycle’s identity, Crespi’s work creates a dialogue with its inherent qualities—precision, elegance, velocity—refracted through an expressive, controlled visual language.  His blue linear patterns ripple across the motorbike’s surface, tracing its aerodynamic silhouette with precision, while the brush strokes carry a palpable texture that feels warm and human. The result channels the sensation of cutting through air: harmonious, tense, and alive with intent.

The artwork also engages the viewer in a shifting perceptual dialogue, shaped by vantage point and medium—whether seen directly or through the lens of a camera, its subject emerges gradually, responsive to how it is observed. It becomes a visual rhythm in motion, fully revealed through the viewer’s engagement. In both Crespi’s practice and Ducati’s design ethos, technology does not replace experience; it amplifies its depth and immediacy.

To complement the collaboration, Crespi created 163 signed and numbered lithographs—each precisely paired with one of the Panigale V4 Tricolore Italia motorcycles. The prints, reserved exclusively for the collectors of this limited edition, extend the project’s spirit into a more intimate register—an expression of movement, design, and emotion that resonates beyond the machine.

A passionate motorcyclist himself, Crespi brought personal insight to the project, stating: “This collaboration with Ducati and Machas combined my passion for motorcycles with my art. I was given great confidence, creative freedom and support. This mix is very valuable and allowed me to express myself in the best possible way - I am very happy with the result.”

Machas supported the collaboration from concept through to completion, shaping its curatorial vision and assisting with production and communication to ensure the project’s cohesion and resonance.

Photographs by Leonardo Sassi
Video by Stefano Bosatelli