To mark the conclusion of the Art Car World Tour, which spanned more than 30 countries, all 20 BMW Art Cars are now gathered in one place. For the very first time! They are now on display as part of a unique art and car exhibition at BMW Welt in Munich from July 29 through August 31, 2026.
In 1975, French race car driver and auctioneer Hervé Poulain had the idea to enter an artistically designed BMW in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Together with BMW Motorsport Director Jochen Neerpasch , he convinced his friend Alexander Calder to paint a BMW 3.0 CSL. Originally intended as a one-time project, the colorful race car generated such enthusiasm among the public that BMW decided to continue the series. Since then, the BMW Art Car Collection has been combining visual art with motorsports—today featuring 20 works by internationally renowned artists.
The exhibition at BMW Welt takes visitors on a journey backward through time: from the most recent work to the oldest. In the entrance area, a short video documentary provides context for the history and significance of the collection. The exhibition opens with the two most recent additions: BMW Art Car #20 by Julie Mehretu and #19 by John Baldessari.
The first Art Car, designed by Alexander Calder, marked the beginning of the collection. In 1975, he designed a BMW 3.0 CSL for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It quickly became clear to everyone involved that this was just the beginning.
The collection now comprises 20 cars featuring works by some of the most famous artists of the modern era, including Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Esther Mahlangu, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, Cao Fei, and Julie Mehretu.
A personal favorite of the editorial team is Alexander Calder’s first Art Car. His car reflects his philosophy of abstract art. The BMW 3.0 CSL is painted in primary colors and was hand-painted with a brush. Although he was normally at home in the world of sculpture and mobiles, the shift in medium was a resounding success. The significance of the first BMW Art Car runs even deeper, however, as it is not only a beginning but also one of the artist’s final works—he passed away the following year.
Another very exciting Art Car is#15, a 1999 BMW V12 LMR by Jenny Holzer, which is adorned with the chrome-foil lettering “PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT.” On the left side, the foil bears the phrase “THE UNATTAINABLE IS INVARIABLY ATTRACTIVE” in smaller lettering; on the right side, “YOU ARE SO COMPLEX YOU DON’T RESPOND TO DANGER”; and on the rear, readable from above, “MONOMANIA IS A PREREQUISITE OF SUCCESS.” It made its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where the twelve-cylinder car completed a lap of honor, ensuring a spectacular unveiling with its 580 PS.
Mehretu’s project demonstrates just how far the series extends beyond the automobile today: Her BMW M Hybrid V8—the first-ever hybrid-electric BMW Art Car and, at the same time, the first BMW M Motorsport prototype at Le Mans since the victorious V12 LMR of 1999—is based on her painting“Everywhen”(2021–2023). Using 3D mapping, she transferred the motif onto the vehicle’s contours and also designed the drivers’ helmets and racing suits. At the same time, in April 2025, she co-founded the African Film and Media Arts Collective (AFMAC) with film producer Mehret Mandefro.
The Art Car 20 is also an exception within the collection: not all 20 BMW Art Cars have raced at Le Mans. Only a minority—Calder (1975), Stella (1976), Lichtenstein (1977), Warhol (1979), Holzer (1999), Koons (2010), and Mehretu (2024), actually competed in the 24-hour race. Many other works—such as those by Fuchs, Ken Done, Manrique, Mahlangu, Kayama, Hockney, and Eliasson—were purely show cars and never raced; a few, such as those by Baldessari and Cao Fei, competed instead in other races, such as those at Daytona or Macau.
The exhibition has been open to the public since July 29 and runs through August 31, 2026. Admission is free. You can find more information here.
