Olafur Eliasson returns to BMW's racing roots for its latest Art Car
Since 1975, outstanding artists from across the globe have collaborated with BMW in its Art Car Collection. Reflecting the cultural development of art, design and technology, the series has seen the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and David Hockney each make a unique artistic statement about the appearance and meaning of cars in their era.
Initially the Art Car concept was developed by auctioneer and racing driver Herve Poulain, and thus the collection was born. In fact, it was his friend and artist Alexander Calder who created the first design, transforming Poulain’s BMW racing car into a work of art, which he later raced at Le Mans.
With such an enthusiastic response from the audience and car fanatics from this first design, BMW established its Art Car Collection. Although initially using racing cars that had participated in the Le Mans 24-hour race, BMW later branched out and included its production cars.
The latest addition to the Art Car Collection comes in the form of Olufar Eliasson’s BMW H2R project. Returning to the series’ racing roots, Eliasson has transformed the hydrogen-powered car, and is currently being exhibited in ‘Your mobile expectations H2R project’ as part of his retrospective show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
17 questions for Michael Kiwanuka
As he prepares to release his fourth album 'Small Changes', we ask Michael Kiwanuka some of life's important questions
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Inside ‘M&OTHERS’, the experimental exhibition dissecting the relationship between fashion and motherhood
A new exhibition at Modemuseum Hasselt, Belgium explores the rarely examined link between fashion and motherhood, in all its forms
By Dal Chodha Published
-
Human gestures shape Milano Cortina 2026's Winter Olympic look
Italian spirit is at the heart of the upcoming Winter Olympic games with pictograms, emblems, and mascots called the 'Vibes'. The idea is to celebrates the Italian way of communicating through expressive movements and gestures
By Smilian Cibic Published
-
New BMW i5 Touring is an all-electric tech powerhouse that brings the noise
BMW has thrown its considerable expertise into making the i5 eDrive40 M Sport Pro Touring the ultimate zero-emission all-rounder. Jonathan Bell tries it out
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
BMW’s limited-edition Skytop roadster draws on the past. Could it also predict the future?
Just 50 examples of the BMW Skytop are being built, and they’ve all been spoken for. We examine whether this classically styled machine is a harbinger of aesthetic change
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed hosted a wealth of auto innovation, from hypercars to hot hatches
The best new SUVs, EVs, hatchbacks and supercars to emerge from the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
The Concept Mercedes-AMG PureSpeed and BMW Concept Skytop offer drop-top dreams
BMW and Mercedes-AMG open up with two new convertible concepts, one pitched at performance, the other at the spirit of the good life
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
BMW launches its latest supermodel, the BMW XM Mystique Allure
The haute couture-inspired BMW XM Mystique Allure, dedicated to Naomi Campbell and with a soundtrack by composer Hans Zimmer, makes its debut at Cannes International Film Festival 2024
By Simon Mills Published
-
BMW Vision Neue Klasse X reveals the shape of tomorrow’s electric SUV
New concept the BMW Vision Neue Klasse X previews the next-generation ‘X’ models
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA brings Esther Mahlangu’s art to life at Frieze LA
BMW’s Art Car Project has rarely impacted on the company’s everyday business of building cars. With the BMW i5 Flow NOSTOKANA, could all that be about to change?
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Electric BMW CE 02 is an eParkourer for the urban jungle
The BMW CE 02 – BMW Motorrad’s second all-electric scooter –is aimed squarely at the urban rider, offering style and power in a bold new package
By George Chapman Published