About the artist

   Born in Switzerland to a Swiss father of Swiss/German descent and to a Japanese mother of Japanese/Thai descent, Nicolas Hunziker now lives and works in the US as a professional automotive fine artist. He’s fluent in three languages (English, German and French) and shares his life with his wife, Heather.

   His father, Dominique Hunziker, was a classic flautist, music arranger and teacher. Together with his wife, Anne, he was active as an international concert and recording artist. Always an accomplished painter and sculptor, his visual works have been part of numerous art exhibits in Europe.

   His mother, Anne Utagawa Hunziker, was a musical child prodigy who started playing the piano aged four. At 18, she won a scholarship to the prestigious Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris. She completed her studies with a 1st Prize for flute and chamber music whereupon she became an internationally featured concert flautist. 

   Hunziker’s granduncle was the motor racing Prince Bira of Siam - Thailand’s first Formula 1 driver - so Nicolas is no stranger to the history, adrenaline, and petrol fumes of motorsport.

   After spending the first 18 years of his life in his home country, Hunziker came to the US on a tennis scholarship at the University of Portland. In 1999, he finished his education by earning a BFA with honors from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena. For the next 7 years, he worked as an award wining art director and creative director for various ad agencies where he wrote and directed numerous TV commercials for brands such as Toyota, P&G, ESPN, PGA Tour, Cargill and Yonex.

   In 2006, Hunziker was looking for some motor racing themed artwork for his own walls. When he couldn’t find anything he liked, he created his own. His first four paintings sold immediately, with it, word of mouth grew. A year later, with the support of his wife, he left his advertising job to pursue a professional painting career.

   He inherited his eye for detail from his father, grandfather, granduncle and great-grandfather who were all classically trained painters. As the fourth generation painter in his family, he knew that a professional fine artist could only establish himself with his own unique style:

The high contrast, the bold use of background color, the inclusion of typography coupled with dynamic car angles: A Hunziker painting is easily spotted.

   He believes in keeping his work simple. Artistically, he takes after his grandfather (Gerold Hunziker) and incorporates many elements of art deco advertising posters into his paintings; a style he calls “period correct.”

   At the behest of his wife, they formed Hunziker Design to produce an apparel and merchandise collection with the goal to create wearable art and to provide motor racing enthusiasts with an exciting way to express themselves. Under Heather’s guidance, Hunziker Design has created officially licensed merchandise for the likes of Porsche, McLaren, Gulf Racing, Porsche Club of America, MOMO, Steve McQueen, James Hunt, McQueen Racing, Wheeler Dealer Mike Brewer, and numerous other clients.

   Nicolas can create any piece on commission, and no piece is too small or big, a fact attested to by the 50 ft murals and 50 mm diameter watch dials he has painted for various patrons. His original acrylic on canvas paintings have been reprinted on everything from Porsche espresso cups to greeting cards, apparel, driving shoes, limited-edition signed prints, mouse pads and phone covers. His artwork even featured on Formula 1 World Champion Kimi Räikkönen’s racing helmet at the Monaco Grand Prix.

   Nicolas is a licensed racer in his own right and is following in his granduncle’s footsteps in the Whitemouse Garage Lotus 51 single-seater race car, an enterprise which Nic describes as: “An attempt at honoring Bira’s legacy in the fastest way possible.” 

   In 2019, Nicolas received a late life neurological disorder diagnosis. Finding out that he had severe ADHD Hyperfocus, APD (auditory processing disorder) and dyscalculia was a shock but also a huge revelation. The very traits that had wrecked havoc on his life, had also enabled him to spend days on end painting away in his studio. With the support of his wife, Nicolas inspires to be an advocate for mental health therapy and medication.

   In recent years, Hunziker’s focus has been back on his original paintings. With his ever-growing commission schedule, his original paintings and print reproductions have now sold to every continent except Africa and Antarctica.

   In his downtime, he enjoys reading, cycling, family time with their rescue animals and working on his own cars. In his workshop he’s done everything from engine rebuilds to mechanical overhauls, restoration work, metal / parts fabrication, welding, design and paint work.

At a glance