SALVATORE SCARPITTA Rajo Jack Special, 1982

Salvatore Scarpitta’s Rajo Jack Special is a tribute to the legacy of American car culture and to the legendary African American race car driver Dewey "Rajo Jack" Gatson. The work reflects Scarpitta’s fascination with speed, machinery, and the resilience symbolized by race cars and their drivers.

In the Rajo Jack Special, Scarpitta uses the image of a sportster car as a metaphor for endurance and the pursuit of freedom. Known for his sculptural pieces involving bandages and raw materials, Scarpitta extends these themes to his automotive works, connecting the power of the car to ideas of movement, struggle, and the pioneering spirit of figures like Rajo Jack, who broke racial barriers in racing. This exhibition poster from Leo Castelli’s Gallery on Greene Street (November 13–December 1, 1982) captures the boldness of Scarpitta’s vision, celebrating both the machine and the tenacity it represents.