The boundary between fine art and functional design has become increasingly blurred over the past decade. While paintings and sculptures remain central to many collections, collectors are also turning their attention to artworks that serve a practical purpose. Furniture, lighting, decorative objects, and even vehicles are now recognized as collectible movable art when they combine artistic vision with everyday functionality. One remarkable example is the art van—a vehicle that operates both as a transportation tool and a unique work of contemporary art.

Functional Art Is Reshaping the Collectibles Market

The growing popularity of functional art is supported by impressive auction results. In late 2025, François-Xavier Lalanne’s Hippopotame Bar sold at Sotheby’s for $31.4 million, demonstrating that collectors are willing to pay museum-level prices for artworks that also have a practical function. Designed as a sculptural bar cabinet, the piece perfectly illustrates how utility and artistic excellence can coexist.

Another landmark sale involved a rare double-pedestal lamp created by Frank Lloyd Wright, which achieved $7.5 million at Sotheby’s. More than simply lighting, the piece represented architectural history, exceptional craftsmanship, and rarity.

These results reflect a broader market trend. Today’s collectors increasingly value works that combine strong provenance, artistic significance, and everyday functionality. Rather than purchasing purely decorative objects, many seek pieces with compelling stories and practical applications.

The Art Van: When Transportation Becomes Contemporary Art

One of the most distinctive examples of functional art is the art van created by the contemporary artist Mitchell Schorr in collaboration with Fine Art Shippers. Known as Da Race on Wheels, the vehicle transforms an ordinary art shuttle into a large-scale moving artwork.

The project extends Schorr’s recognizable Da Race street art series, featuring colorful cartoon-style race cars inspired by New York City life. Many of his murals include the iconic Mister Softee truck, adding a playful sense of movement and nostalgia while avoiding the idea of winners and losers.

Instead of using a traditional canvas, Schorr selected an operational delivery truck as his artistic medium. The result is a fully functional vehicle that transports fine art across the United States while simultaneously serving as a public artwork visible wherever it travels.

For more than five years, the art van has appeared at galleries, museums, art fairs, and private collections, becoming instantly recognizable within the art logistics community. Today, Fine Art Shippers has decided to offer the vehicle for sale to preserve it as a collectible work of art rather than continue using it in daily operations.

As collectors continue expanding their definition of collectible art, projects like Da Race on Wheels demonstrate that artistic value is no longer confined to gallery walls. Functional artworks unite creativity, craftsmanship, and real-world purpose, offering a new generation of collectors an opportunity to own pieces that are both visually memorable and genuinely useful.