Latest news with #ArtCar
The National
03-04-2025
- Automotive
- The National
Andy Warhol's painted BMW M1 to make first regional appearance at Art Dubai
In May 1979, Andy Warhol travelled to Germany on a special assignment. The US artist was invited by BMW to take part in their Art Car series. Warhol would paint the fourth car in the collection, a prototype BMW M1. Six kilograms of paint and 28 minutes later, the prototype was transformed into a priceless artwork, with Warhol's signature vibrancy. That car is now heading to Dubai. The BMW M1 Art Car will be a highlight at Art Dubai, which will take place at Madinat Jumeirah from April 16 to 20. The display is organised by BMW Group Middle East. It will coincide BMW Art Car Collection's 50th anniversary. The initiative began in 1975, with US sculptor Alexander Calder's design of the BMW 3.0 CSL. The collection is continuing and now features 20 cars. Some of the most famous artists of the past half a century have taken part in the project, including Roy Lichtenstein, David Hockney and Jenny Holzer. Most recently, Julie Mehretu put her mark on a BMW M Hybrid V8 in 2024. Warhol's 1979 M1, however, has endured as one of the collection's most striking works. 'I have tried to give a vivid depiction of speed,' Warhol said in 1979. 'If a car is really fast, all the contours and colours will become blurred.' The car's arrival in Dubai is its first visit to the region, part of a world tour of BMW Art Cars. 'The BMW Art Car collection embodies our commitment to creativity, innovation, and cultural expression,' Karim-Christian Haririan, managing director of BMW Group Middle East, said. 'Andy Warhol's BMW M1 Art Car is a true masterpiece that bridges the worlds of art and automotive excellence, and we are thrilled to bring this iconic work to Art Dubai 2025. This moment not only celebrates 50 years of BMW Art Cars but also highlights our ongoing support for the arts and our role in shaping creative conversations worldwide.' BMW Group Middle East will also be hosting a talk at Art Dubai. The session will examine the car industry's intersection with art and design. Speakers will include Hans Ulrich Obrist, artistic director of London's Serpentine Galleries; Stephanie Rosenthal, director of the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi; Azu Nwagbogu, founder and director of the African Artists' Foundation; and Thomas Girst, head of cultural engagement at the BMW Group.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BMW Marks 50 Years of Iconic Art Car Collection with Global Exhibition Tour
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious BMW's iconic Art Car collection is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, launching a global exhibition tour highlighting the unique convergence of automotive engineering and contemporary art. Since its inception in 1975, when American sculptor Alexander Calder turned a BMW 3.0 CSL race car into a vivid, rolling canvas, BMW's Art Car initiative has drawn some of the art world's most influential figures, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons, and Jenny Holzer. To date, 20 renowned artists have transformed BMW vehicles into dynamic artworks, making the series one of the automotive world's most ambitious and celebrated cultural endeavors. To mark half a century of collaboration, BMW announced its largest-ever international tour for the Art Car series, featuring special events and exhibitions spanning five continents. The collection represents an extraordinary timeline of art history, encompassing minimalism, pop art, conceptualism, abstraction, and digital expression. 'Our 20 BMW Art Cars have become global icons, narrating stories about society, technology, and performance," said Ilka Horstmeier, BMW Group Board Member for Human Resources and Real Estate. "This anniversary highlights our enduring commitment to fostering innovation and creativity through meaningful artistic partnerships.' Julie Mehretu's recent work, the BMW M Hybrid V8—the 20th Art Car—will make prominent appearances, including exhibitions at Art Basel in Hong Kong and the Shanghai Auto Show. Beyond the car itself, Mehretu's project includes workshops for young filmmakers and media artists in five African countries, culminating in an exhibition at Zeitz MOCAA in Cape Town in 2026. Other milestone events include a European kickoff featuring Warhol, Lichtenstein, and Koons at Vienna's Museum of Applied Arts and SPARK Art Fair, followed by appearances at prestigious events such as the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy and special museum exhibitions across Europe and Asia. To commemorate the anniversary, BMW will release a third edition of its comprehensive Art Car catalogue, a new limited-edition scale model of Mehretu's car, and a new fashion collection in partnership with Puma. The BMW Art Car project, first envisioned by racing driver Hervé Poulain and BMW Motorsport chief Jochen Neerpasch, has evolved into a globally recognized fusion of automotive and contemporary art, continuously inspiring new dialogues between artists and automotive enthusiasts alike.
