What stories would a regular Mercedes-Benz Sprinter tell if it could speak? The shuttle owned by Fine Art Shippers has lived an extraordinary life, filled with transformation and purpose. Once a Red Cross vehicle, it later became a fine art logistics workhorse, then evolved into a moving artwork in collaboration with Mitchell Schorr. It even briefly served as a mobile Airbnb space. Today, the widely recognized Da Race on Wheels art van stands as a true icon in its field.
At the beginning of its journey, the Da Race on Wheels art van served the needs of the Red Cross, the world’s largest humanitarian network, contributing to its missions and supporting essential operations.
Fine Art Shippers acquired the vehicle from the Red Cross, drawn by the proven reliability and safety of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. Imported from Germany to the United States, the van underwent careful restoration and was fully equipped to meet the highest standards of professional art transportation.
A new chapter began in 2021, when Fine Art Shippers partnered with the street artist Mitchell Schorr to transform the vehicle into a moving art object. Over several days, Schorr covered the shuttle in his signature imagery—playful racecars and the iconic Mister Softee ice cream truck—turning it into a vibrant, recognizable work of art.
The concept behind Da Race on Wheels was both creative and philosophical. As Mitchell Schorr later noted, the idea of “art carrying art” across the country added a new dimension to how people experience and interact with it. The shuttle itself became part of the artistic narrative, not just a means of transport.
In 2022, the shuttle took on yet another role as part of an Airbnb initiative by Fine Art Shippers. Reimagined as a temporary living space, it offered visitors a unique opportunity to stay inside a piece of moving art and experience street culture in an immersive way.
Over the years, the art van has traveled through 48 states and more than a hundred cities, becoming a symbol of mobility, creativity, and accessibility in contemporary art.
Today, the van is offered for sale, ready to enter a new chapter. As a one-of-a-kind art object with a rich history, it presents a rare opportunity for a serious collector to acquire not just an artwork, but a living piece of cultural storytelling.
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Follow how art moves across studios, cities, markets, and ideas. Essays, interviews, and perspectives on contemporary art, design, and art history.
