Eight rare BMW Art Cars on display at Louwman Museum
BMW Art Car Collection
The selected cars show how art, motorsport and design have uniquely come together in the BMW Art Car Collection since 1975. For this anniversary edition, the Louwman Museum selected eight examples that together form a journey through modern art history – on four wheels. In some cases, these works of art actually raced in the Le Mans 24-hour race and are recognized worldwide by leading museums such as the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Guggenheim Museum in New York.
The cars and their artists – in detail
Alexander Calder – BMW 3.0 CSL (1975)
The very first Art Car. Calder used bright surfaces in red, yellow and blue to represent speed and energy. The car actually drove the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1975.
“I wanted to give the car a sense of speed. Even when standing still, it should look fast.”
Frank Stella – BMW 3.0 CSL (1976)
Inspired by technical drawings: an abstract grid of black on white that visualizes the mechanics of speed.
“The car is a blueprint brought to life.”
Roy Lichtenstein – BMW 320i Gruppe 5 (1977)
A driving comic strip: dots, lines and a landscape unfolding along the side like a filmstrip.
“I wanted the car to express the idea of a landscape passing by.”
Andy Warhol – BMW M1 (1979)
Warhol painted the car in 23 minutes, directly on the bodywork. The brush strokes symbolize speed and motion.
“I love that car. It’s more successful than the artwork.”
César Manrique – BMW 730i (1990)
The Spanish artist combines landscape art and aerodynamics with bright volcanic colors and flowing forms.
“I see the car as a part of nature, harmonizing with its surroundings.”
Esther Mahlangu – BMW 525i (1991)
The first female artist in the project and the first non-Western voice. She applied traditional South African Ndebele patterns to the car.
“My art has always been part of my life. It is my way of telling stories.”
David Hockney – BMW 850 CSi (1995)
The car seems transparent: the outside shows a view through to the inside – a tribute to driver, technology and emotion.
“You can see the car’s innards – the engine, the driver. It’s about showing what’s underneath.”
Jeff Koons – BMW M3 GT2 (2010)
An explosion of color and energy, with 3D effects and a racing livery that literally pops.
“The car is bursting with energy. It’s meant to express the power and excitement of racing.”
Practical information
The Fine Art on Wheels exhibition will be on display at the Louwman Museum in The Hague from July 4 to August 31, 2025. Due to the expected crowds, the museum will be open 7 days a week during this period.
Photography: Noël van Bilsen
