LONDON: As Rolls-Royce marks Phantom’s centenary, the marque’s designers have created a series of original artworks that pay tribute to Phantom’s legacy.
The artworks celebrate this remarkable motor car’s cultural impact through the decades and capture the spirit of each of its eight generations.
These artworks echo a historical precedent dating back to 1910, when the artist Charles Sykes – who would later create the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot – was commissioned to produce six original oil paintings for the marque’s 80-page catalogue.
These images showed Rolls-Royce motor cars arriving at the opera, a country house, the golf course and other venues, reflecting the tastes and lifestyles of its almost exclusively aristocratic owners at the time.
The illustrations created by the marque’s designers in 2025 illustrate just how much that client profile has diversified over the past century.
In a statement, the luxury marque said while these contemporary illustrations celebrate Phantom’s evolving role in culture, they also echo a deeper truth: that for a century, Phantom has been present at defining moments in politics, society, and global history.
"From heads of state to stars of stage and screen, it has served those whose decisions and presence have helped shape the world we live in," said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
The luxury marque pointed out that for 100 years, Phantom has been a quiet but imposing presence in some of history’s most defining and memorable moments.
"Now in its eighth generation, it remains a potent symbol of power, influence, and success."
"As well as continuing to attract many of the highest achievers in modern culture, it transcends the automotive world, serving as both the pinnacle of luxury and a cultural icon in its own right," said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
Whether making cameo appearances in music videos, from Calvin ‘Snoop Dogg’ Broadus and Pharrell’s Drop It Like It’s Hot to Drake’s Started From the Bottom, being represented in cultural institutions like the Saatchi Gallery and the Serpentine, or serving as a collaborative canvas for brands including Hermès and Iris van Herpen, it continues to reflect and shape the world around it.
"As Phantom enters its second century, each new commission adds another chapter to a story still being written – one shaped by the achievements of those who commission it and the timeless commitment to excellence and individuality that have always defined Phantom," said Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.
