Bmw Art Cars

BMW Art Cars - three words that evoke the legendary link-up of car icons such as the BMW M1 and the BMW Z1, with world-famous artists like Roy Lichtenstein and Jeff Koons. Read on to see who designed which BMW model, how, and why. Learn about the BMW Art Car Project, which invites renowned artists to create works of art on BMW vehicles since 1975.

See the photos and names of 20 official BMW Art Cars, as well as some unofficial ones, and their public display locations. Learn about the history and artists of the BMW Art Car Collection, a series of 20 BMW cars transformed by famous painters, sculptors and photographers. See the images and details of each art car, from Calder's 1975 3.0 CSL to Mehretu's 2024 M Hybrid V8.

The story of BMW Art Cars started in 1975, when the French racing driver and auctioneer Hervé Poulain came up with the idea of joining the 24 Hours of Le Mans in an artist-styled BMW. Jochen Neerpasch, who was head of BMW Motorsport at the time, was completely on board with the idea, and the first BMW Art Car was born: a BMW 3.0 CSL in strong primary colours by the American sculptor Alexander. The BMW Art Cars go on exhibition at prestigious museums and major art events worldwide.

Along for the ride: lots of rolling sculptures by BMW M which have also proven themselves on the racetrack. BMW's Art Cars are the boldest of the bold. As the project recently celebrated its 50th anniversary and is scheduling museum tours across the world, let's dig into the history of BMW's Art Cars.

"The BMW Art Car Collection celebrates 50 years of artistic freedom and visionary design. The 20 vehicles have become international icons, telling stories of society, technology, and performance," says Ilka Horstmeier, Board Member for Human Resources and Real Estate at BMW Group. In 2026, Retromobile will celebrate half a century of existence and mark the occasion with the BMW Art Car World Tour, featuring all seven BMW Art Cars that took part in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

BMW's art car collection celebrates its 50th anniversary with exhibitions of iconic models by andy warhol, jeff koons and more. Learn about the history and design of BMW's iconic Art Cars, from Calder's sculptural 3.0 CSL to Cao Fei's digital M6 GT3. Discover how artists like Warhol, Hockney, and Koons transformed racing cars into moving canvases of expression and innovation.