Over the past five decades, renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Jenny Holzer, and Robert Rauschenberg have transformed BMW cars into iconic art pieces. Now, abstract painter Julie Mehretu has been chosen as the next artist to create a BMW Art Car. Her artwork will grace a BMW M Hybrid V8 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in June 2024.
The tradition of BMW Art Cars began in 1975 when American sculptor Alexander Calder painted the first car. Since then, notable artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Esther Mahlangu have contributed their unique styles to the series. Mehretu’s Art Car will mark the 20th installment in this esteemed collection.
Mehretu’s abstract works draw inspiration from architecture and urban settings, incorporating intricate lines, shapes, and occasional bursts of color. Her art explores themes of migration, colonialization, and globalization, providing a dynamic visual representation of contemporary experiences.
Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1970, Mehretu moved to the United States with her family to escape civil war. She has received critical acclaim for her artwork and has been honored with prestigious awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2005. Madeleine Grynsztejn, Pritzker Director at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, described Mehretu as the perfect artist for the BMW Art Car project, highlighting her expertise in capturing speed and scale.
During her visit to the 24 Hours of Daytona race in Florida, Mehretu was inspired by the speed and motion of the cars. The BMW M Hybrid V8, a plug-in hybrid racing car engineered in collaboration with Dalara, will showcase her artistic vision as it reaches incredible speeds on the track.
While Mehretu has not yet determined the exact design for her Art Car, she aims to capture the blur and uncertainty of our current social fabric. The dynamic and unstable nature of the racing environment resonates with her artistic exploration of indiscernible concepts.
The BMW Art Car project continues to push boundaries and merge the worlds of art and automotive design, and Mehretu’s participation adds another chapter to this iconic collaboration.
Over the past five decades, renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, Jenny Holzer, and Robert Rauschenberg have transformed BMW cars into iconic art pieces. Now, abstract painter Julie Mehretu has been chosen as the next artist to create a BMW Art Car. Her artwork will grace a BMW M Hybrid V8 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans race in June 2024.
The tradition of BMW Art Cars began in 1975 when American sculptor Alexander Calder painted the first car. Since then, notable artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Esther Mahlangu have contributed their unique styles to the series. Mehretu’s Art Car will mark the 20th installment in this esteemed collection.
Mehretu’s abstract works draw inspiration from architecture and urban settings, incorporating intricate lines, shapes, and occasional bursts of color. Her art explores themes of migration, colonialization, and globalization, providing a dynamic visual representation of contemporary experiences.
Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1970, Mehretu moved to the United States with her family to escape civil war. She has received critical acclaim for her artwork and has been honored with prestigious awards, including a MacArthur Fellowship in 2005. Madeleine Grynsztejn, Pritzker Director at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, described Mehretu as the perfect artist for the BMW Art Car project, highlighting her expertise in capturing speed and scale.
During her visit to the 24 Hours of Daytona race in Florida, Mehretu was inspired by the speed and motion of the cars. The BMW M Hybrid V8, a plug-in hybrid racing car engineered in collaboration with Dalara, will showcase her artistic vision as it reaches incredible speeds on the track.
While Mehretu has not yet determined the exact design for her Art Car, she aims to capture the blur and uncertainty of our current social fabric. The dynamic and unstable nature of the racing environment resonates with her artistic exploration of indiscernible concepts.
The BMW Art Car project continues to push boundaries and merge the worlds of art and automotive design, and Mehretu’s participation adds another chapter to this iconic collaboration.