To mark the 50th anniversary of the BMW Art Car Collection, BMW Group Middle East will present the remarkable BMW M1 Art Car—reimagined by the legendary artist Andy Warhol—at Art Dubai 2025, which will be held from 16 to 20 April, 2025.
The 4th BMW Art Car: Andy Warhol, 1979.
Instead of covering the prototype BMW M1 with quotations from pop culture, Andy Warhol (1928-1987), one of the most influential artists of the modern age and a major proponent of Pop Art, reached for his paintbrush and left his own, very personal signature on the car, which had only recently left the drawing board of design legend Giorgio Giugiaro. With broad brushstrokes, 6 kilograms of paint and in just 28 minutes, Warhol covered the car in colours and textures that clearly reveal his artistic gestures, even today. Hervé Poulain, the founder of the BMW Art Car Collection, witnessed Warhol painting the car and compared it to a live dance performance. Andy Warhol’s Art Car raced for the first and only time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979. Numbered 76, the M1 was driven by Manfred Winkelhock from Germany, as well as Hervé Poulain and Marcel Mignot from France, finishing sixth overall and second in its class.
About the BMW Art Car #4, Andy Warhol said:
“I love that car. It has turned out better than the artwork.” He added, “I have tried to give a vivid depiction of speed. If a car is really fast, all the contours and colours will become blurred,”
Karim-Christian Haririan, Managing Director of BMW Group Middle East said:
“The BMW Art Car collection embodies our commitment to creativity, innovation, and cultural expression. Andy Warhol’s BMW M1 Art Car is a true masterpiece that bridges the worlds of art and automotive excellence, and we are thrilled to bring this iconic work to Art Dubai 2025. Our participation in this year’s Art Dubai reinforces BMW Group Middle East’s dedication to fostering artistic dialogue and cultural exchange in the region. This moment not only celebrates 50 years of BMW Art Cars but also highlights our ongoing support for the arts and our role in shaping creative conversations worldwide.”
BMW Art Talk
On 17 April 2025 at Art Dubai, BMW will host an Art Talk titled “Driven by Art: Are Commissions and Co-Creations the Future?” The discussion will reflect on 50 years of the BMW Art Car series, exploring its fusion of art, design, and automotive innovation.
