BMW Art Cars

Lichtenstein 1977 320i Racecar.

Beginning in 1975, with an Alexander Calder 3.0 CSL, BMW has produced a series of production and race model cars decorated by high artists. The original 1975 art car was transformed by racer Herve Poulain shortly before he was scheduled to race in 24 Hours of Le Mans. The concept grew over the years and included artists ranging from Andy Warhol to Rauchenberg and most recently, Jenny Holzer, who decorated a V12 racecar with one of her trademark truisms. The collection of cars rotates between museums including Le Louvre in Paris, the Royal Academy in London, and the Whitney Collection in New York, but a number of them can be seen year round at the BMW Zentrum building in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

Stumbled upon all this while attempting to study for intro to Contemp Art, how fun.

The Original: Alexander Calder’s 1975 3.0 CSL

Robert Rauschenberg’s 1986 635 Csi

Jenny Holzer’s 1999 v12 LMR

links:
BMW Zentrum: Art Cars
BMW World’s Art Cars
World Car Fans Article