BMW commemorates the 50-year milestone of its groundbreaking Art Car initiative through exhibitions and additional events.
The BMW Art Car project was born in 1975, when French race car driver and art enthusiast Hervé Poulain, together with BMW Motorsport chief Jochen Neerpasch, invited his artist friend Alexander Calder to paint a BMW 3.0 CSL race car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This pioneering collaboration marked the beginning of a unique collection that has since seen more than 20 cars created by some of the world’s most celebrated artists [1][2][3][4].
Notable artists who have contributed to the BMW Art Cars include:
- Alexander Calder (1975): The pioneer of the project who designed the original BMW 3.0 CSL race car [1][2][3][4].
- Frank Stella: Known for his abstract work, Stella contributed his distinctive style to the collection [2][4].
- Roy Lichtenstein: The pop artist known for comic-strip style imagery painted a BMW Art Car [2][4].
- Andy Warhol (1979): Created Art Car No. 4, a BMW M1 Group 4 race car, transforming it with his signature pop-art style that visually expressed speed; this car is now on the U.S. National Historic Vehicle Register and housed for display at the Library of Congress [1][2][3].
- Others include Robert Rauschenberg, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, and Julie Mehretu, each bringing unique graphical and artistic techniques to various BMW models ranging from race cars to production vehicles [2][3][4].
The artists are selected by an independent global jury of curators and gallerists, with the process emphasizing complete artistic freedom [2].
As we approach the 50th anniversary of the BMW Art Car project in 2025, a worldwide celebratory programme of exhibitions and displays is being planned, including the BMW Art Car World Tour from 2025 to 2026 [1][2][3][4].
Highlights of the World Tour schedule include:
- The display of classic Art Cars by Andy Warhol and Julie Mehretu at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (July 2025) [1].
- The Warhol Art Car will be featured in Washington D.C., including an induction into the U.S. Library of Congress's National Register of Historic Vehicles. It will be exhibited on the National Mall during a week-long celebration, concluding with a ceremony at the Hirshhorn Museum on September 17, 2025 [2][3].
- The World Tour of the BMW Art Car collection started its U.S. leg in August 2025, with ongoing exhibitions planned across various locations through 2026, though specific later dates and locations have not been detailed in the available sources [2].
To stay updated on the latest news and developments from the BMW Art Car project, be sure to subscribe to BMW's newsletter for daily inspiration, escapism, and design stories from around the world. The BMW Art Car Collection can also be explored further on BMW's official website [2][3][4].
[1] BMW Group. (2023). BMW Art Cars. Retrieved from https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/bmw/culture/art-cars.html
[2] BMW Group. (2023). BMW Art Car World Tour. Retrieved from https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/bmw/culture/art-cars/art-car-world-tour.html
[3] BMW Group. (2023). BMW Art Cars: 50 years of cultural collaboration. Retrieved from https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/bmw/culture/art-cars/bmw-art-cars-50-years-of-cultural-collaboration.html
[4] BMW Group. (2023). BMW Art Cars: A history. Retrieved from https://www.bmwgroup.com/en/bmw/culture/art-cars/a-history.html
- The BMW Art Car project, which began in 1975, has since involved various industries such as transportation and automotive, showcasing collaborations with artists in the realms of finance and contemporary art.
- In the upcoming BMW Art Car World Tour from 2025 to 2026, renowned artworks from the transportation and automotive industries, including paintings by Alexander Calder and Andy Warhol, will be exhibited, demonstrating the project's impact on the wider finance and arts sectors.
