Motor Marc Lacourciere

Motor Marc

Lacourciere was born on January 29, 1960, and raised in Windsor, Ontario. He was one of the six children. He attended high school at W. F. Herman Academy - Secondary in Windsor. When in high school, he took elective classes in the machine and automotive shop programs, alongside arts, painting, and sculpture courses.

In the fall of 1977, Lacourciere enrolled at St. Clair College of Applied Arts and Technology in the CNC Manufacturing, Mould/Tool & Die course. After school, he started his apprenticeship in the automotive plastic industry. During school, he started his apprenticeship and worked as an automotive plastic mould maker at Modern Mold and graduated in 1981.

Motor Marc and Motor Marc Art logo

In 1981, Lacourciere started working as a full-time décor artist at Arnold Manufacturing and a part-time freelance illustrator in automotive advertising. By the mid-1980s, he had advanced to creative director and was working on large murals and sculpted glass panels as an approved artist for McDonald’s and other restaurant chains in North America and Europe. At the same time, he was actively working as a freelance automotive artist painting for Chrysler, Ford, GM, and toy model car companies such as Monogram Models, Aluminum Model Toys (AMT). One of his first milestones was a poster he did for the Willistead Concourse D’elegance featuring a 1930 Cadillac Model 452 V-16 Roadster.

1930 Cadillac Model 452 V-16 Roadster for Willistead Concourse D’elegance

In 1990, Lacourciere opened up his own advertising agency Marc L. Tec. He procured several commissions with Power Graphics to create a series of exotic automotive fine art paintings.

1957 Chevrolet Corvette for the Bradford Exchange Collection

Lacourciere became a licensed artist for the Bradford-Hamilton Collection, Easyriders, and American motorcycle magazine. Working alongside artist David Mann and publisher Joe Terecy, he painted 16 motorcycle titles for the collectible plate market.

Motorcycle plates collection Motor Marc

The success of the series led to Bradford Collection commissioning him to do a series for Nascar`s top drivers: Dale Earnhardt Sr. & Jr., Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, and others.

Dale Earnhardt, NASCAR's top drivers for the Bradford Collection

By 1999 the Motorgraphics Collection Inc. was established with the single goal of marketing the Motor Marc brand and fine art. Between 2000 and 2003, Motorgraphics opened an etched glass wall décor studio creating large art projects for Peter Anthony Designs, Charter House Designs, Stainless Corporation, and Elias Brothers Décor, which specialized in art and glass walls created exclusively for the restaurant industry and higher scale fine dining eateries, as well as, carved glass for upscale residential homes.

In 2003, Lee Dawson, CEO of Quality-One International (Q1), approached Lacourciere about doing a commissioned piece for Harley-Davidson celebrating their 100th Anniversary. This fine art project would give him approval as an HD motorcycle artist. The original piece was auctioned for Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), and the following year Willie G Davidson granted Lacourciere a commission to do another painting to help MDA.

Willie G. Davidson (left) and Motor Marc (right)

By the following year, Lacourciere would be a featured artist in many Canadian shows, including Friday the 13th in Port Dover, Ontario. He then approached Rodney L. Denis, a photographer that he had worked with during the advertising agency years and had been featured on Biker TV.

In 2006, Lacourciere’s licensing agreements with Discovery Channel and the new TV show American Chopper The Series, he was asked to join the Orange County Choppers' America 2006 Tour.

American Chopper - The Series

After signing a licensing agreement with hot rod builder Boyd Coddington/American Hot Rod, Lacourciere created a painting depicting Coddington and his favorite 1932 Ford Hot Rod called “Boyds Café.” After this, he began a new motorcycle series called “The Romance Collection”. The first art piece of that series was called “Wet Romance.”

Lacourciere’s painting Red Fridays Thunder was part of the raffle held by the Canadian Forces in support of the Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warrior Fund. The painting was displayed at Supershow 2007.

Motor Marc (left) with Mike Wolf (right), spokesperson for the Indian Motorcycle Corporation

In 2009, Lacourciere became licensed by Indian Motorcycle Corporation. He and Denis started doing gallery shows from Vegas to Daytona Beach with an expanding gallery. His painting Spirit of the Open Road was unveiled at the opening ceremony of Indian Motorcycle’s dealership in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Craig Jackson (left) with Motor Marc (right)

By 2010, Lacourciere became a featured artist for the Barrett-Jackson car auction in Scottsdale, Arizona. His work was predominantly displayed on the program cover, as well as, limited canvas reproductions, posters, and tee-shirts. He was also featured on Speed TV Network. During the show, he made a canvas print that was signed by automotive designer Carroll Shelby and businessman Barrie McGuire, among others. The piece had a winning bid of $90,000 by NASCAR team owner Rick Hendricks and was donated to the Darrell Gwynn Foundation.

Paintings for Barrett Jackson

Returning for a second appearance at Barrett-Jackson car auction in 2013, Lacourciere was a featured celebrity alongside car designers Chip Foose and George Barris. The artwork featured the 1966 Batmobile, which ended up on the program's cover and sold out of posters and tee-shirts that raised money for several charities. Lacourciere continued being a featured artist on the Rock Legends Cruise and later that year was featured at the Sturgis Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.

In 2010, Lacourciere introduced a new collection of music fine art. Licensed by Retna, “The Legends of Rock and Roll” series starting with the Rolling Stones. With his positive response from Ronnie Woods and Buddy Guy, he was inspired to continue this collection and create new paintings every year.

Motor Marc painting the Rolling Stones

Lacourciere finalized a licensing agreement with Fender Musical Instruments Corporation in October 2012, giving him the rights to paint 32 Fender guitar players, including Leo Fender, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and more.

Motor Marc and Alice Cooper at the Rock Legends Cruise (left) and Marc painting ZZ Top (right)

In 2014, Lacourciere unveiled the Fender guitar painting called “Fender Legends” with 32 Rock Legends that took a few years to complete.

Fender Legends unveiling

In 2005, Lacourciere became the featured artist on the High Seas Rally, an annual biker rally held on a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship. He produced a series of collectable paintings called “Hidden Treasures.”

Shoreline Treasures unvelied on the Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship, 2005

Towards the close of 2011, Lacourciere was a featured artist on three cruises, the Legends of Rock for his music collection, the High Seas Rally voyages, and World Art Auction LLC. He raised funds for The Native American Heritage Association and Debbie’s Dialysis Fund respectively through his art donations on these cruises.

Pirates Cove (left) and Magical Treasures of the Deep (right)

In 2014, Lacourciere’s vision of his Hidden Treasures series came to the world of literature after his daughter, Melanie, wrote and published a coffee table book called “Ocean’s Daughter.” Later in the year, the Sturgis Rally saw his gallery expand to over 100 titles of art and record sales.

Melanie Lacourciere's book, Ocean's Daughter

Motor Marc's daughter Melanie on the cover of Quick Throttle magazine's October 2018 issue

In 2019, Lacourciere sculpted his first bronze statue, “Ocean Treasures”, which was unveiled on the High Seas Rally cruise alongside his featured fine art piece, “The Heart of the Seas”.

"Oceans Treasures"

Lacourciere then featured his new painting with laser-cut antique metal swinging doors that open to reveal Heart of the Seas. This way of framing created a shadow art illusion on each side of the wall creating a three-dimensional piece of art.

At the end of 2020, two sculptures of blown glass waves, adorned with high-end Swarovski crystal stones that would hold his newest painting called “The Lonely Seas”.

At the 2015 - 75th Sturgis Rally a large mural of Lacourciere’s 2010 piece “Legend Rider” was hung on the side of the museum building where approximately 739,000 people could view the mural. The press and crowds gathered for the big unveiling with the Native American performing a traditional blessing dance and paid tribute to the painting at the Motorcycle Museum.

Native Americans performing a traditional dance in front of the Legend Rider at the 7th Sturgis Rally

At the 76th Sturgis Rally, Lacourciere created another piece of original iron art, titled Monumental Pride, to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the completion of Mount Rushmore. The original piece incorporated granite leftover from the redevelopment of Mount Rushmore. Lacourciere wanted to bring awareness and honor to Gutzon Borglum and the artisans who worked and sacrificed to create Mount Rushmore.

Monumental Pride, a tribute to the artisan who created Mount Rushmore

He also added new pieces to his series for the Legends of Rock, High Sea Rally, and the Sturgis Bike Rally. Lacourciere unveiled a new painting at Sturgis Rally called “Boys Girls Club” which gave him a new compliment of being compared to Norman Rockwell of today.

During the pandemic, Lacourciere continued his series of Legend Rider to the “Ghost of Legend Rider”. This was unveiled through social and print media along with the actual art displayed at the Black Hills Harley-Davidson dealer in Rapid City for the Sturgis Rally.

With the success of Motors Boys/Girls Club, Lacourciere started experimenting with animation which led him to come up with “Motor Kids Club” starring a group of cartoon characters who share the same passion as him.

In 2020, Lacourciere created a YouTube series with his animated characters from “Motor Kids Club”. The series would teach children how to draw while giving them something to do during the COVID-19 lockdown. Lacourciere signed an agreement with Janice Varney-Hamlin at Marketing Immersion as his entertainment agent.

During the spring of 2018, Lacourciere created another painting honoring veterans at Rolling Thunder 30. The art tells a story by introducing the “Legend of Freedom” painting which was unveiled in Washington, D.C. He had veterans lined up to visit and sign their names on a brick wall in the painting. Over 300 signatures cover the painting.

Legend of Freedom unveiling in Washington, D.C. (left) and Marc painting it (right)

Lacourciere started off in 2021 with a tribute painting called “Champions of Peace” honoring World War II veterans and their victory of winning the war. The painting includes 10 veterans from the Canadian, American, and United Kingdom Armed Forces.

"Champions of Peace"Metal art

Lacourciere unveiled a metal art that was presented to Roger Penske at the 2016 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. The creation features Indy Cars racing on the streets of Belle Isle set across the distinctive Detroit skyline and featuring the Team Penske 50th anniversary logo unveiled earlier that year. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder jointly presented the large metal art piece to Penske during opening ceremonies.

2016 Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix

In 2008, Lacourciere signed a licensing agreement with C3 Entertainment, Inc. He would then create four fine art pieces on the iconic Three Stooges.

In 2012, as Lacourciere was represented by C3 Entertainment and his licensing with Stooges collection, his wife, Linda, and he walked the red carpet in Hollywood at the premiere of The Three Stooges movie. He also appeared on an edition of Jay Leno’s Garage in an exclusive interview about motorcycle and automotive art.

Marc Lacourciere with Jay Leno (left) and Knuckleheads 2009/2010 catalog cover (right)

In the fall of 2016, Lacourciere received a royal invitation from his Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Bin Mabarak Al Nahayan in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates to unveil a diamond-studded art piece that was the most valuable automotive diamond décor art ever created and was registered in the Guinness Book of World Records.

In 2017, Lacourciere and America Remembers collaborated on a limited edition engraved Winchester rifle, called Freedom Rolls Across America Tribute Rifle.

Freedom Rolls Across America Tribute Rifle

As a long-time humanitarian, Lacourciere released a video call “World Peace”. The video shows him creating a new finger and hand painting with strong visual awareness of our world today with the intention of reminding us to always help others in need.

Marc Lacourciere was married in 1982 to Linda Labonte. They have three children: Shawn, Aimee, and Melanie. He also has five grandchildren.

Motor Marc’s preferred medium is watercolor gouache and acrylics on illustration board and canvas. He has also engraved raw steel, etched into granite, sandblasted and carved into the glass, created stained glass projects, and sculpted clay to create a bronze sculpture.

• Canadian Transportation Museum and Heritage Village Museum, Kingsville

• Ontario. LeMay America’s Car Museum in Seattle, Washington

• Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame in South Dakota

• Barrette-Jackson/Greg Jackson's private fine art collection in Scottsdale Arizona

• World Art Galleries on the Royal Caribbean cruise ships

• National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, KY

• Motorgraphics Collection, a touring gallery exhibiting throughout North America