By Michael Laches
Porsche is a world-renowned automobile maker that conjures up words like luxurious, stylish, thrilling, sleek and elegant.
However, this story isn’t about high-speed driving or under-the-hood gyrations. Rather, it’s about a unique art form, one in which Mark (nicknamed Bash) and Lola Hill have taken the sleek and iconic Porsche, viewed it through a different lens, and fashioned components of these unmistakable cars into dramatic, undeniable and exigent artwork. And, by the way, these artists are here in Apex.
“We are both originally from different places,” Lola explained. “Bash grew up in Florida and then moved to North Carolina in 1994. My dad was in the military, so we moved around a lot growing up but also moved to North Carolina in the late 1990s. We both call NC our home because we both have lived here the longest and we wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s got the best of both worlds, the mountains and the beach all within a half of a day’s drive.”
They love living here in Apex because of the location, the family friendly environment and the continued (if fleeting) country feel. Lola noted that there are still places that have cows. They plan to buy a small farm one day with an even bigger shop. For now, the Apex shop they currently work out of will have to do. But why cars?
“We both loved cars growing up and remained car enthusiasts with predominantly the vintage Porsches being at the top. So, when we met, we loved having that in common since it’s a passion for both of us. That’s probably why it’s so easy to work with each other,” Bash shared.
One of their early collaborations was an attempt to restore an old 1953 Desoto but it was a little too far gone. Lola recalled that it was going to take a lot of time and money, so they decided to pivot and look at older cars — cars, to be sure, that had the potential for inclusion in art projects like one, she mentioned, that was found out in the woods. (More on this a little later.)
“We loved the idea of preserving the older vehicles and being able to still include them in everyday life, just in a new creative way. Like in your living room or on the wall in your shop. We eventually found our new love of vintage Porsches a few years ago and haven’t looked back. We’ve tailored our business model around Porsches for a new look and perspective,” she detailed.
So, what is the process and how does this artistic couple collaborate on a piece of art?
Their artistic journey is very personal and allows them to express themselves in a meaningful way. They combine this approach with a thorough understanding of their clients’ needs. From there, they create unique pieces of art. Lola described what it looks like on the shop floor.
“Bash has a background in fabrication, and his gears are always turning (pun intended), and he has even taught me how to weld. I do more of the fine art and paintings while Bash does the fabrication. We both are creative and work well together. With it just being the two of us, as well as being married, it can be challenging but we always make it work. We’ve learned to communicate and to make fun of it. Taking the back roads on a beautiful sunny day is probably the best medicine…well, tacos help, too,” she said.
Being an artist has its own obstacles but what happens when you add a blank canvas of Porsches?
“Some of the challenges we have in the execution of our art recently have been finding the clients who have the space for our larger pieces of artwork. One of the challenges we face is finding these highly sought after vintage collectible parts. We also like to dream big and go crazy and unless you find the right client for the bigger installations it can be hard to convince them otherwise,” Bash noted.
Speaking of a big installation with just the right client, their collective favorite art project and installation happened right here in downtown Apex.
“Hands down, Tap Station restaurant in Apex,” Bash recalled. “We designed, sourced and built all the decor in the restaurant. Everything including the truck booths, the axle taps for the beer, the vintage and authentic signage all the way down to the gas pump handle faucets in the bathrooms. It was a labor of love and took approximately 10 months to a year to fully complete. This was also during the pandemic, which covered many obstacles with sourcing items, shutdowns, of course, and the unknown of the future that was ahead of us. But it all worked out and came together beautifully. We really lucked out working with the Tap Station team, they basically gave us free range on our ideas and kept an open mind because they believed in our vision so much.”
Lola recounted another experience they had that required overcoming some unusual challenges.
“We went to an auction out in the middle of nowhere one day and were ready to bid on a really beautiful 1948 Ford truck. The only issue was it was wedged between three trees. Correction … the trees were actually growing around it and through it. Needless to say, the truck had been there for a while given how big these trees were. Still, we had to have it and luckily no one else did, so we got it.
We had brought our old flatbed truck, a Sawzall, as well as a bunch of determination. We got to work and started taking apart what we could in the middle of this large field. All of a sudden, we feel this rumble beneath our feet and look up to see a herd of cows coming our way. I’m an animal lover to my core but I won’t lie, it felt a little intimidating to see such a large pack of very determined bovines charging our way. Turns out they were friendly and just hoping we had some lovely snacks for them. I think we shared a pack of peanut butter crackers together. Anyway, it was definitely one of the most memorable encounters — and the truck-front bar turned out really beautifully,” she remembered.
Lola said that they each have their own favorites from over the years. Bash likes to say that his favorite is “the next one.” For most artists, that new fresh idea or project on the horizon is always going to be the best one and while Lola totally agrees with him on his vision, there is one piece that remains near and dear to her.
“I really love the vintage Porsche half-car on the wall. So much time and creativity went into this project as well as a plethora of hours, fabrication and determination,” she fondly remembered.
Bash closed by noting how they are always learning, expanding, and growing to ensure progress and success in the future. “We have been working with new clients from the local area and some out-of-state clients in Miami. Luckily, there are so many people that understand our type of art — and that it can be very specific for each client and what fits their needs — so it keeps us busy. So far, we’ve been busy with custom orders for car condos, exclusive clubs and even restaurants,” he said.
If you want to learn more about this creative Apex couple and what happens at the crossroads of art and automobiles, visit bashandlola.com.
