BMW has taken the world of motorsport and art to new heights with the world premiere of the 20th BMW Art Car, designed by acclaimed American abstract painter Julie Mehretu. Presented at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, this latest addition to the iconic BMW Art Car Collection is more than just a high-performance racing machine—it’s a vibrant testament to the power of artistic expression and cultural dialogue.
Julie Mehretu’s Vision: A Playground for Imagination
Julie Mehretu, known for her complex, layered artworks, has transformed the BMW M Hybrid V8 into a three-dimensional canvas. Her design, which draws from her painting “Everywhen,” incorporates alienated photographs, dotted grids, neon-coloured spray paint, and her iconic gestural markings. This unique car wrapping, meticulously applied to the vehicle, turns the car into a moving blur of artistic expression—a tribute to both speed and creativity.
Mehretu’s inspiration for the car’s design came from her experiences at the 24-hour race in Daytona, where she observed the interplay of innovation, imagination, and the relentless pursuit of pushing boundaries. Her approach to the Art Car was to imagine it moving through her painting, blending the car and the artwork into one fluid experience. The result is a vehicle that doesn’t just display art—it embodies it.
A Collaborative Effort in Precision and Innovation
The technical realisation of Mehretu’s vision was a complex process involving close collaboration with the German team Race Spirit, who were also responsible for Jeff Koons’ 17th BMW Art Car. The team used advanced 3D scanning and digital rendering techniques to perfectly align the artwork with the car’s aerodynamic contours. The final design, which intentionally plays with deliberate inconsistencies and “glitchy” elements, creates a dynamic visual effect when the car is in motion, emphasising the theme of movement and transformation.
Cultural Exchange Through Art and Motorsport
But this Art Car project extends far beyond aesthetics and engineering. BMW and Mehretu are launching the PanAfrican Translocal Media Workshops, a series of workshops across Africa designed to nurture the creativity of emerging artists in cities like Dakar, Marrakesh, Kigali, Lagos, and Cape Town. These workshops will focus on artistic forms of expression in film, providing a platform for artists to explore and redefine their identities through moving images.
From Racetrack to Cultural Milestones
The 20th BMW Art Car, with its striking design and the number 20 proudly displayed, will soon make its dynamic debut at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. This tradition, which began with Alexander Calder’s first Art Car in 1975, reinforces the deep connection between art and motorsport that has defined the BMW Art Car Collection.
Following its stint on the racetrack, the outcomes of the PanAfrican Translocal Media Workshops, alongside Mehretu’s Art Car, will be exhibited at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town. This exhibition will serve as a powerful symbol of cultural exchange and creative collaboration.
