Miami beach boys on display at Christie's

Stained glass windows depicting larger than life Miami beach boys in speedos are on display at Christie's this week.

The exhibition features a series of six spectacular glass panels, each displaying the iconic sun-drenched swimmers wearing nothing other than sunglasses and trunks.

It is the first time the panels, created by celebrated artist Brian Clarke, have been shown in Europe.

Clarke, 58, said: "The subjects are inspired by beauty. I didn't want the subject matter to be anything to do with religion. These panels opened the door to a radical change in stained glass and I didn't want it to look similar to anything that had gone before."

The Lancashire born artist, who also had a show open in Dallas last night (Mon) added: "I wanted to create the mirage effect, you can see straight through the glass. I amied to create the feeling of a floating image."

Francis Outred, head of post-war and contemporary art, Christie's Europe, said: "The exhibition is designed entertain and prompt discussion, the contemporary art sales are always something quite special."

"It is particularly exciting to display the focal piece of the exhibition, the six Atlantes."
The panels will be placed alongside a group of paintings, which feature a procession of Porsche motorcars driving across the top of the canvases.
Clarke, a world leader in stained glass projects first exhibited the pieces in New York in 2002. This week's private sale exhibition, entitled Atlantes and Astragals, opened on Saturday and lasts until December 22.