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The BMW Art Cars by American artists Andy Warhol and Julie Mehretu will be exhibited at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, BMW said today. The display at the concours marks the beginning of the North America segment of the BMW Art Car World Tour which celebrates the collection in its 50th year globally.
“The display at the concours marks the beginning of the North America leg of the BMW Art Car World Tour, which celebrates the iconic collection in its jubilee year around the globe from Vienna to Hong Kong and Shanghai, from Dubai to Marrakech and Milan. The two BMW Art Cars will travel on to The Bridge and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C. respectively,” BMW said.
At the 74th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (17 August 2025), arguably the signature event of Monterey Car Week, art and motorsport fans will be treated to a rare display of these two examples from BMW’s storied collection:
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Andy Warhol’s BMW M1 Group 4 (#4, 1979)
Andy Warhol (1928–1987) is considered one of the most influential artists of the modern age and a major proponent of Pop Art. In just 28 minutes, Warhol covered the car – then the latest masterpiece by Giorgio Giugiaro – in colors 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 was raced for the first and only time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979.”
Julie Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8 (#20, 2024)
Julie Mehretu’s works comment on social and political upheavals. Born in 1970 in Addis Ababa and now living in New York, Mehretu “is one of the most successful artistic voices of her generation. “She first presented her artistically designed BMW M Hybrid V8 to the public at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in May 2024. After its race deployment in Le Mans a month later. This year marks the next chapter of the project in cooperation with the BMW Group: the African Film and Media Arts Collective (AFMAC). With BMW Art Car #20 now returning to the artist’s homeland for the first time, the presentation at Pebble Beach is its North American premiere.
This year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance “serves as the perfect venue to celebrate two American-made masterpieces, as 2025 marks the 50th anniversaries of the BMW Art Car collection and BMW officially doing business in the USA. The two ‘rolling sculptures’ will then continue their journey separately to The Bridge in Bridgehampton, New York, and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C.,” BMW said.
In 2016, Bob Rubin, Shamin Abas, and Jeffrey Einhorn founded The Bridge, an annual automotive event, held by invitation only on the historic grounds of the original Bridgehampton Race Circuit. The event celebrates the site’s rich racing heritage, showcasing more than 200 post-war sports and competition cars. This year, visitors can look forward to a special highlight on 13 September 2025: Julie Mehretu’s BMW Art Car #20 will be on display alongside the McLaren Artura GT4 designed by American artist Mickalene Thomas.
Inspired by the idea behind the BMW Art Car Collection, the Driven Artists Racing Team (DART Car) commissioned award-winning multi-disciplinary artist Mickalene Thomas to design a custom wrap for their very first race car, the McLaren Artura GT4. The car made its official debut on February 18th at the Classic Car Club Manhattan in New York. The DART initiative was founded by entrepreneur Zoë Barry, art advisor Spring McManus, and professional racecar driver Aurora Straus. It aims to showcase the achievements of women in the traditionally male-dominated fields of art and motorsport.
“As part of the presentation of BMW Art Car #20 by Julie Mehretu and Mickalene Thomas’ custom-designed McLaren, an Art Talk with both artists, entrepreneur Zoë Barry and Thomas Girst, Global Head of BMW Group Cultural Engagement, will take place on 13 September at 4pm. The conversation, moderated by art advisor Spring McManus, explores the innovative fusion of contemporary art and motorsports.
“Shortly afterwards, Andy Warhol’s iconic BMW Art Car will be presented in Washington, D.C. The stop in the US capital will be kicked off with an exclusive opening ceremony at the Hirshhorn Museum, located prominently on the National Mall,” BMW said.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
BMW Art Car World Tour – Pebble Beach Next
Click for more
The BMW Art Cars by American artists Andy Warhol and Julie Mehretu will be exhibited at this year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, BMW said today. The display at the concours marks the beginning of the North America segment of the BMW Art Car World Tour which celebrates the collection in its 50th year globally.
“The display at the concours marks the beginning of the North America leg of the BMW Art Car World Tour, which celebrates the iconic collection in its jubilee year around the globe from Vienna to Hong Kong and Shanghai, from Dubai to Marrakech and Milan. The two BMW Art Cars will travel on to The Bridge and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington D.C. respectively,” BMW said.
At the 74th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (17 August 2025), arguably the signature event of Monterey Car Week, art and motorsport fans will be treated to a rare display of these two examples from BMW’s storied collection:
Click for more.
Andy Warhol’s BMW M1 Group 4 (#4, 1979)
Andy Warhol (1928–1987) is considered one of the most influential artists of the modern age and a major proponent of Pop Art. In just 28 minutes, Warhol covered the car – then the latest masterpiece by Giorgio Giugiaro – in colors 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 was raced for the first and only time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979.”
Julie Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8 (#20, 2024)
Julie Mehretu’s works comment on social and political upheavals. Born in 1970 in Addis Ababa and now living in New York, Mehretu “is one of the most successful artistic voices of her generation. “She first presented her artistically designed BMW M Hybrid V8 to the public at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in May 2024. After its race deployment in Le Mans a month later. This year marks the next chapter of the project in cooperation with the BMW Group: the African Film and Media Arts Collective (AFMAC). With BMW Art Car #20 now returning to the artist’s homeland for the first time, the presentation at Pebble Beach is its North American premiere.
This year’s Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance “serves as the perfect venue to celebrate two American-made masterpieces, as 2025 marks the 50th anniversaries of the BMW Art Car collection and BMW officially doing business in the USA. The two ‘rolling sculptures’ will then continue their journey separately to The Bridge in Bridgehampton, New York, and the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C.,” BMW said.
In 2016, Bob Rubin, Shamin Abas, and Jeffrey Einhorn founded The Bridge, an annual automotive event, held by invitation only on the historic grounds of the original Bridgehampton Race Circuit. The event celebrates the site’s rich racing heritage, showcasing more than 200 post-war sports and competition cars. This year, visitors can look forward to a special highlight on 13 September 2025: Julie Mehretu’s BMW Art Car #20 will be on display alongside the McLaren Artura GT4 designed by American artist Mickalene Thomas.
Inspired by the idea behind the BMW Art Car Collection, the Driven Artists Racing Team (DART Car) commissioned award-winning multi-disciplinary artist Mickalene Thomas to design a custom wrap for their very first race car, the McLaren Artura GT4. The car made its official debut on February 18th at the Classic Car Club Manhattan in New York. The DART initiative was founded by entrepreneur Zoë Barry, art advisor Spring McManus, and professional racecar driver Aurora Straus. It aims to showcase the achievements of women in the traditionally male-dominated fields of art and motorsport.
“As part of the presentation of BMW Art Car #20 by Julie Mehretu and Mickalene Thomas’ custom-designed McLaren, an Art Talk with both artists, entrepreneur Zoë Barry and Thomas Girst, Global Head of BMW Group Cultural Engagement, will take place on 13 September at 4pm. The conversation, moderated by art advisor Spring McManus, explores the innovative fusion of contemporary art and motorsports.
“Shortly afterwards, Andy Warhol’s iconic BMW Art Car will be presented in Washington, D.C. The stop in the US capital will be kicked off with an exclusive opening ceremony at the Hirshhorn Museum, located prominently on the National Mall,” BMW said.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.