BMW has unveiled its 20th Art Car

BMW 20th Art Car. Credit BMW

BMW has unveiled its 20th Art Car, created by American painter Julie Mehretu, at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

On June 28th, 2023, BMW announced that Mehretu would design this Art Car at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City. BMW then provided her with an M Hybrid V8 race car to use as her canvas.

BMW 20th Art Car. Credit BMW

Mehretu imagined the car as a moving painting, envisioning it racing on tracks and streets with the painting seemingly dripping into the car.

BMW 20th Art Car. Credit BMW

The car features stark blue light strips at the front, bringing Mehretu’s art to life. The design includes digitally altered photographs that form abstract visuals, layers of dot grids, neon-colored veils, and the black markings characteristic of her style.

BMW 20th Art Car. Credit BMW

Julie Mehretu, said:
“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. My BMW Art Car was created in close collaboration with motorsport and engineering teams. The BMW Art Car is only completed once the race is over.”

BMW 20th Art Car. Credit BMW