Julie Mehretu and the BMW Hybrid V8 Art Car. Photo: Tereza Mundilová.
Fans of the BMW Art Car Collection will want to head over to Hong Kong this month. At Art Basel Hong Kong fans can get an up-close look at the BMW Hybrid V8 Art Car designed by Julie Mehretu. The exclusive unveiling takes place on March 26, 2025, at the BMW Lounge in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) as part of the ongoing BMW Art Car World Tour.
The showcase marks a double celebration for the automotive-art initiative. A groundbreaking fusion of art, design, and automotive engineering it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Incidentally, Mehretu’s artistic take also marks the 20th edition of BMW Art Cars.
A 50 Year Journey
BMW Art Cars’ 20th edition will be showcased in Hong Kong. Photo: Tereza Mundilová.
The BMW Art Car Collection began in 1975 when French racing driver and art lover Hervé Poulain invited his artist friend Alexander Calder to paint a BMW 3.0 CSL. The car went on to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans that year, marking the birth of this iconic program. Since then, artists such as Frank Stella, Robert Rauschenberg, David Hockney, Olafur Eliasson, and Cao Fei have added their unique works to the collection, each contributing a distinctive interpretation of the BMW brand.
Mehretu’s design for the 20th BMW Art Car has already captivated art and motorsport enthusiasts around the world. Featuring a powerful combination of vibrant neon colours, digitally altered photographic layers, and Mehretu’s signature black gestural marks, the BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car brings her large-scale painting Everywhen (2021–2023) to life. The car’s design was enhanced with advanced 3D mapping technology, reflecting a bold fusion of art and high-performance engineering.
Having already made its debut at the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024, the BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car embodies the powerful symbiosis between art and racing, setting the stage for its global tour. Mehretu herself describes the car as a “performative painting,” one that reaches its full expression on the racetrack. “Working on the BMW Art Car has allowed me to explore new dimensions of movement, space, and time,” she says.
Celebrating Automotive-Art
Mehretu working on the car in Munic. Photo: André Josselin.
The exhibition at Art Basel Hong Kong will not only feature Mehretu’s extraordinary Art Car, but will also showcase a selection of miniature BMW Art Cars from the past 50 years, designed by some of the world’s most iconic artists. This includes works by Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons, Jenny Holzer, Robert Rauschenberg, and more, celebrating the diverse range of styles and artistic visions that have contributed to the collection’s legacy.
As part of its ongoing partnership with Art Basel, BMW continues its support of the fair’s VIP car service, further emphasizing the brand’s commitment to the intersection of art, design, and mobility. Raymond Tan, Managing Director of BMW Hong Kong Services Limited, expressed his excitement about the 20th edition: “The 20th BMW Art Car perfectly encapsulates the powerful symbiosis of art, technology, and design. Over the past 50 years, the BMW Art Car Collection has inspired creativity, innovation, and dialogue amongst art and car enthusiasts worldwide.”
The car will debut this March at Art Basel Hong Kong. Photo: André Josselin.
The 20th edition by Julie Mehretu is the latest addition to the BMW Art Car World Tour, which will travel to major global events throughout 2025 and 2026. Stops on the tour will include prestigious venues like Taipei Dangdai, Market Art Fair, and the Concorso d’Eleganza, alongside renowned automotive museums and classic car festivals.
