As anticipation builds for this year’s Le Mans endurance race, we explore the history and evolution of BMW’s iconic Art Car project.
ADVERTISEMENTSince 1975, the BMW Art Car Project has transformed the world of motorsports into an open canvas for some of the world’s most renowned artists, including the likes of Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons and Roy Lichtenstein.
Over the years, these creative titans have been given complete freedom to turn BMW’s ultra-fast vehicles into moving masterpieces, while redefining the concept of brand extension in the process.
Ethiopian American sculptor Julie Mehretu joins this esteemed group this year, unveiling a new dazzling design to appear at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans event this weekend.
But how was this unique fusion of art and motorsports come about?
A brief history of the BMW Art Car
The BMW Art Car project was conceived by French racing driver and art enthusiast Hervé Poulain. His vision was to combine his dual passions for racing and contemporary art, a concept that he proposed to his friend, American sculptor Alexander Calder.
With the green light from BMW Motorsport’s then-head Jochen Neerpasch, Calder transformed Poulain’s BMW 3.0 CSL into a vibrant, moving piece of art. The car made its debut at the 1975 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although it didn’t finish the race, the Art Car sparked the birth of a cultural legacy for the luxury brand.
Following Calder’s pioneering effort, the Art Car series quickly gained momentum. In 1976, Frank Stella applied his minimalist, grid-based design to another BMW 3.0 CSL, reflecting his fascination with the structure and precision of race cars. A year later, pop art pioneer Roy Lichtenstein brought his signature comic-strip style to a BMW 320i.
The involvement of Andy Warhol in 1979 marked a huge milestone for the project. He needed just 24 minutes to paint the car, in a shop outside of Munich.
“I attempted to show speed as a visual image. When an automobile is really traveling fast, all the lines and colours are transformed into a blur,” Warhol said in explanation of his work.
The car’s performance at Le Mans matched Warhol’s swift painting process. It achieved a respectable sixth place overall and finished second in its category.
Since then, the Art Car has continued to push the boundaries of creativity, featuring works from artists like Jenny Holzer, David Hockney, Jeff Koons, Esther Mahlangu, and many others. d
BMW’s 20th Art Car
For this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, BMW presents its 20th Art Car, a stunning BMW M Hybrid V8 designed by contemporary artist Julie Mehretu.
Mehretu’s design draws inspiration from her monumental painting «Everywhen» (2021-2023), aiming to make the car appear as if it had passed through the space of her artwork.
«I don’t think of this car as something you would exhibit. I am thinking of it as something that will race in Le Mans. It’s a performative painting,» shares Julie Mehretu.
She adds: “The BMW Art Car is only completed once the race is over.”
Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8 will compete at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans carrying the number 20, and will be driven by BMW M works drivers Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, and René Rast.
The legendary endurance event, set to kick off on 15 June, promises to be a spectacle, drawing more than 250,000 spectators to the Circuit de la Sarthe.
We’ll soon see if Mehretu’s artful touch can help propel BMW to a triumphant finish. Win or lose, one thing’s for sure – they’ll be racing in unmatched style.
