BMW's Jaw-Dropping Art Car: Meet the Le Mans Racer Transformed by Julie Mehretu

In 1973, Alexander Calder, more renowned for his sculptures than his paintings, was commissioned by Braniff Airways to paint one of its DC-8 jets. The resulting vibrant work was called 'Flying Colors.' Two years later, Calder was approached by Hervé Poulain, a racing enthusiast, to apply his artistic vision to a BMW 3.0 CSL for the 24 Hours of Le Mans race. This collaboration, Calder's final masterpiece before his death in 1976, marked the beginning of the iconic BMW Art Cars series.

Fast-forward to the present, and BMW Art Car number 20 made a stunning debut at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The latest addition to this prestigious collection is a 640-horsepower BMW M Hybrid V-8 racer, intricately designed by contemporary artist Julie Mehretu. Mehretu's creation will hit the tarmac at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans, piloted by the stellar trio of Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, and René Rast.

Julie Mehretu, a New York-based artist recognized by Time magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2020, has brought her distinctive abstract visual language to BMW's iconic Le Mans racer. In 2022, Mehretu shattered auction records for African artists when her piece Untitled fetched $9.32 million at Sotheby's Hong Kong. Inspired by her experience at the Rolex 24 at Daytona earlier this year, Mehretu sought to mirror the collaborative spirit of race engineers, designers, and aerodynamicists in her work.

'When it goes out on the racetrack now, so many dreams will be fulfilled,' Mehretu reflects. Her design process involved transforming digitally-altered photographs into layered compositions that feature grids of dots, neon tones, and her characteristic black markings. Mehretu even employed 3D mapping technology to perfectly integrate her artwork with the contours of the BMW M Hybrid V-8.

The legacy of BMW Art Cars includes contributions from luminaries like Andy Warhol. Warhol’s legendary 1979 BMW M1 Art Car captured speed’s essence with its vivid, rapidly-applied paint job. Warhol completed his creation in just 28 minutes, and it went on to finish sixth overall at Le Mans. Other notable artists who have lent their talents to the series include Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, and Jeff Koons.

The significance of Mehretu's Art Car extends beyond its maiden race. This visually-engaging vehicle will be showcased at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este, a pinnacle event at Italy’s Lake Como that celebrates both historic and contemporary vehicular beauty. Mehretu is set to join this illustrious exhibition, presenting her creation alongside other Art Cars by legends like Calder, Stella, and Warhol.

Art Cars have evolved significantly from their inception. Initially focused on participating in the prestigious Le Mans race, they have grown to symbolize a fusion of engineering prowess and artistic genius. Jenny Holzer’s 1999 V-12 LMR Art Car, adorned with thought-provoking phrases, revisited the race after a hiatus, reaffirming the powerful statement that Art Cars make both on and off the track.

Join us on this visual journey as Mehretu's BMW Art Car 20 gears up for one of the most iconic races in motorsport. Eminent artists' works along its lineage testify to the ability of art to capture motion, speed, and the essence of a racing spirit. This piece is not just a car; it’s a synthesis of speed and creativity, making it a masterpiece both in the art world and on the racing circuit.

For a comprehensive view of all the BMW Art Cars, explore here.