All 20 BMW Art Cars Unite at BMW Welt for 50th Anniversary Exhibition in Munich
For the first time, all 20 BMW Art Cars are displayed together at BMW Welt in Munich from 29 July to 31 August 2026, celebrating the collection's 50th anniversary.
- 20
- 50 years
- over 30
- 4 worldwide
What Happened
The BMW Art Car Collection began in 1975 on the initiative of French racing driver Hervé Poulain and Jochen Neerpasch, then Head of BMW Motorsport. The first Art Car by Alexander Calder debuted at Le Mans. Now, 50 years later, all 20 Art Cars are reunited at BMW Welt for the first time. The exhibition includes works by iconic artists such as Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and others. A highlight is Olafur Eliasson's 'BMW H2R Project', a frozen installation on the East forecourt.
First BMW Art Car created by Alexander Calder for Le Mans race.
Olafur Eliasson's BMW H2R Project world premiere.
Opening of the exhibition 'BMW ART CARS – 20 ARTISTS, 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION'.
“When we prepared the first automotive art installation with Alexander Calder for the 24-hour race at Le Mans, we assumed it would be a one-off event. But even when the artwork was created and the Calder BMW 3.0 CSL was presented in Paris, and certainly when it was racing at Le Mans, we were convinced that it would not be the last art project involving cars. I would never have dreamed that it would”
20
Displayed together for the first time in 50 years.
The exhibition is complemented by a digital treasure hunt and the Artlas app, providing interactive guides in 25 languages. The Treasure Hunt unlocks a voucher for Cooper's Garden after scanning five Art Cars. The Artlas app offers personalized tours, text and audio info, and an AI chat. The exhibition also features guided tours daily.
“By bringing together art, design, social and environmental issues, I hope to contribute to a different way of thinking-feeling-experiencing cars and seeing them in relation to the time and space in which we live.”
Why this matters
The exhibition marks the first complete reunion of the iconic rolling sculptures, showcasing 50 years of BMW's design and art collaboration. Visitors can experience works by renowned artists like Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol, and Julie Mehretu, plus a digital treasure hunt and the Artlas app for interactive learning. The highlight includes Olafur Eliasson's 'BMW H2R Project' on the East forecourt.
Terms in This Story
- BMW Welt
- BMW's visitor center and event venue in Munich, Germany.
- Art Car
- A car transformed into a work of art by a commissioned artist, part of BMW's ongoing art collection.
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