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BMW’s Art Car tradition began in 1975 when French racing driver Hervé Poulain invited artist Alexander Calder to paint a BMW 3.0 CSL, which then raced at Le Mans.
This special Art Car has already competed in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
BMW has introduced its 20th Art Car designed by globally renowned artist Julie Mehretu.
This latest addition to the prestigious BMW Art Car Collection made its grand appearance at Art Basel Hong Kong, marking 50 years of BMW’s celebrated “rolling sculptures.”
Design
Julie Mehretu’s design for the BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car is inspired by her large-scale painting, Everywhen (2021–2023), which she has deconstructed and reassembled using digital techniques.
- Vibrant Neon Colours: The car features an explosion of bright neon shades, making it a standout on the track and in the gallery.
- 3D Mapping Technology: Advanced digital layering techniques have been used to integrate Mehretu’s signature black gestural marks, creating a sense of movement and depth.
The result is a car that appears to be in motion even when standing still, symbolising speed, energy, and innovation.
The BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car has already competed in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans.
The Art Car World Tour
Following its showcase at Art Basel Hong Kong, the Art Car is set to travel across the globe as part of the BMW Art Car World Tour. It will make stops at prestigious events such as:
- Taipei Dangdai
- Market Art Fair
- Concorso d’Eleganza
- Various museums and classic car festivals
African Arts Initiative
BMW and Julie Mehretu are also launching the African Film and Media Arts Collective, a programme aimed at nurturing young talent in cities like Dakar, Lagos, and Cape Town.
These workshops will foster creativity among emerging African artists and filmmakers, with their work set to be displayed alongside the 20th BMW Art Car at Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA) in 2026.
