BMW Art Cars by Andy Warhol and Julie Mehretu Headline Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance

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For half a century, BMW Art Cars have offered a unique creative platform for renowned artists from around the world to express their vision through the canvas of an automobile.

This year, American artists Andy Warhol and Julie Mehretu will have their iconic BMW Art Cars on display at the 74th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 17, 2025. The event marks the start of the North American leg of the BMW Art Car World Tour, celebrating 50 years of this legendary collection with a global journey that includes stops in Vienna, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dubai, Marrakech, and Milan.

Andy Warhol (1928–1987), one of the most influential figures in modern art and a major proponent of Pop Art, completed his BMW Art Car in just 28 minutes. His bold brushstrokes and vivid palette transformed the BMW M1, designed by legendary automotive stylist Giorgio Giugiaro, into a kinetic work of art.

Hervé Poulain, founder of the BMW Art Car Collection, compared the process to “a live dance performance.” Warhol’s M1 was raced once, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979, cementing its status as both a cultural and motorsport artifact.

Julie Mehretu, born in Addis Ababa in 1970 and now based in New York, is celebrated for her mixed media works exploring social and political landscapes. Her BMW M Hybrid V8 made its public debut at the Centre Pompidou in Paris in May 2024, followed by its race appearance at Le Mans one month later.

The Pebble Beach presentation marks the car’s North American premiere and a return of sorts to the artist's homeland. As part of an ongoing collaboration with the BMW Group, this project supports the African Film and Media Arts Collective (AFMAC).

At Pebble Beach, these two “rolling sculptures” will be shown together in a rare public display, offering art aficionados and motorsport fans a unique glimpse into BMW’s artistic legacy. This year’s event also celebrates a milestone: the 50th anniversary of BMW’s official operations in the U.S. and the Art Car Collection’s golden jubilee.

After Pebble Beach, the cars continue their journey:

• Julie Mehretu’s Art Car #20 heads to The Bridge in Bridgehampton, New York.
• Andy Warhol’s M1 travels to the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C.

Founded in 2016 by Bob Rubin, Shamin Abas, and Jeffrey Einhorn, The Bridge is one of America’s most exclusive automotive gatherings, held by invitation only on the grounds of the historic Bridgehampton Race Circuit.

On September 13, 2025, guests will witness Julie Mehretu’s BMW Art Car #20 on display alongside the McLaren Artura GT4, designed by American artist Mickalene Thomas. The car was commissioned by the Driven Artists Racing Team (DART Car), founded by Zoë Barry, Spring McManus, and Aurora Straus, to highlight women in the traditionally male-dominated fields of art and motorsport.

That same day, an Art Talk will be held at 4 p.m., featuring Julie Mehretu, Mickalene Thomas, entrepreneur Zoë Barry, and Thomas Girst, BMW Group’s Global Head of Cultural Engagement. Moderated by art advisor Spring McManus, the conversation will delve into the fusion of contemporary art and motorsports.

Shortly after the Bridge event, Andy Warhol’s BMW Art Car will be unveiled at the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C., during an exclusive opening ceremony. The museum, located on the National Mall, offers a fittingly prestigious venue for one of the collection’s most iconic pieces.

The BMW Art Car program was born in 1975 from a collaboration between French racing driver and art dealer Hervé Poulain and BMW Motorsport head Jochen Neerpasch. They invited artist Alexander Calder to paint a BMW 3.0 CSL, which later raced at Le Mans and captured public imagination.

Since then, celebrated artists such as Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, Esther Mahlangu, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, and Julie Mehretu have contributed to the collection.

Each BMW Art Car is unique, ranging from racing prototypes to production models, and reflects the artist’s style and technique. Artists are selected by an independent jury of museum directors and curators and are granted complete creative freedom.

For more updates and behind-the-scenes content from the global BMW Art Car Tour and cultural initiatives, follow @BMWGroupCulture on Instagram.

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