Spotlight on the Genesis GV70 Art Car & Artist Katie Hardy

Art Car
Written By Linda Browne

If you've ever lived or spent time in St. John's, you'll know its reputation as a windy city is one that's well earned.

And if you've ever paid attention to the wind as it flows through tall grasses like ocean waves, you'll know there's a certain beauty about it.

Local artist Katie Hardy ("Lady Katie") has brought to life the simplistic beauty of the wind, and the flowers and foliage it touches, through her eye-catching design for Business & Arts NL's newest Art Car.

A young women wearing a long black dress and glasses inside a conference centre smiles slightly as she stands next to a brightly painted car featuring a design that includes colourful flowers and foliage blowing in the wind.

Artist Katie Hardy stands next to the Genesis GV70 Art Car during the unveiling at the St. John’s Convention Centre on June 6, 2025.

Officially unveiled during an event on June 6 at the St. John's Convention Centre (which also featured musical entertainment  by The Hallidays), this latest Art Car, titled "Windy," marks the third collaboration between Business & Arts NL and Capital Auto Group on the Art Cars initiative, which transforms vehicles into striking pieces of mobile public art with the help of local artists. (Click here to read about the 2021 Genesis GV80 Art Car created by Vanessa Iddon, and click here to learn more about the 2023 MINI Countryman Art Car created by Marcus Gosse.)

Hardy's design is a loving reflection on Newfoundland and Labrador's natural environment, while also calling to mind the strength and power of Mother Nature.

A brightly painted car, featuring scenes of flowers and foliage blowing in the wind on a dark blue background, sits parked in front of Belbin's Grocery in downtown St. John's.

"My design concept centres around pitcher plants and tall candles — along with other NL foliage — blown backward by the wind, drawn in deep jewel tones to evoke the unmistakable feeling of stepping outside on a particularly gusty day. The design alternates between flowers, plants, and long, slender candles, which resemble each other but vary in colour and tone," she explains via her artist statement.

"The foliage adapts to the contours of a complex vehicle wrap, with branches and leaves extending beyond a straightforward left-to-right pattern. To emphasize the design on the hood and roof, I've incorporated larger petals, leaves, and natural NL elements while maintaining the same dynamic, swooping motion — so you can truly see them being pushed by the wind. Capturing that real-world force, like when backyard trees bend completely sideways, is a key part of this concept." (Click here to learn more about the Genesis GV70 Art Car and artist Katie Hardy.)

A brightly painted car, featuring scenes of flowers and foliage blowing in the wind on a dark blue background, sits parked on a street with green trees in the background.

Hardy's design was selected through a competitive process starting with a public call for submissions, which helps make the process equitable by making the opportunity available to as many artists in the community as possible, in addition to helping advertise the kinds of projects that are possible and the professional artist fees that are expected for this kind of work.

The Art Cars, which are driven around the province, not only turn heads while creating spontaneous encounters with art in various communities; they also help promote the work of local artists, act as a moving billboard for Business & Arts NL's Explore Art NL public art app and demonstrate the company's commitment to creative community partnership.

A brightly painted car, featuring colourful flowers and foliage blowing against the wind on a dark blue background, sits inside a conference centre with people mulling around it.

“At Genesis St. John’s, we’re dedicated to exploring powerful ways to engage with our community. With successful art car projects in the past with Marcus Gosse and Vanessa Iddon, we’re now excited to launch original artwork by Katie Hardy," says Matt Kelland, Group Marketing Director at Capital Auto Group.

"In transforming our Genesis GV70 into moving art, this collaboration demonstrates how business and the arts can work together to create an instant impact. We extend our sincere thanks to Amy Henderson and her team for facilitating this partnership, and we encourage businesses across the province to connect with Business & Arts NL."

A close-up of the details of the side of a brightly painted car, featuring foliage and flowers blowing against the wind on a blue background. The artist's name, Lady Katie, is noted in green.

It's partnerships like these, Henderson says, that helps drive the work and mission of Business & Arts NL forward.

"Business & Arts NL reached a major milestone this year when we surpassed $1.1 m in commissions, gigs and sponsorships brokered between the arts and business communities," she says.

"It's community partners like Capital Auto Group who are keen to explore projects that are good for business, good for artists, and good for the community at the centre of each of these projects, and we're so grateful to the team at Genesis St. John's for such a fun and generative working relationship."

A brightly painted car, featuring colourful flowers and foliage blowing against the wind on a dark blue background, sits inside a conference centre with people mulling around it. "Download the Explore Art NL app today" is written on the rear window.

Looking to engage with artists, whether for a single event or a province-wide project? Business & Arts NL’s Brokering Services ensure that your partnership with the arts is thoughtful, effective and impactful. Click here to learn more about our Brokering Services or reach out to us at: info@businessandartsnl.com

Linda Browne
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Introduction to Impact Measurement in the Arts: Q&A with Dr. Gillian Morrissey