Olafur Eliasson returns to BMW's racing roots for its latest Art Car

The latest addition to BMW's Art Car Collection comes in the form of Olufar Eliasson’s BMW H2R project

(Image credit: BMW)

published 13 December 2007

Since 1975, outstanding artists from across the globe have collaborated with BMW in its Art Car Collection. Reflecting the cultural development of art, design and technology, the series has seen the likes of Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and David Hockney each make a unique artistic statement about the appearance and meaning of cars in their era.

Initially the Art Car concept was developed by auctioneer and racing driver Herve Poulain, and thus the collection was born. In fact, it was his friend and artist Alexander Calder who created the first design, transforming Poulain’s BMW racing car into a work of art, which he later raced at Le Mans.

With such an enthusiastic response from the audience and car fanatics from this first design, BMW established its Art Car Collection. Although initially using racing cars that had participated in the Le Mans 24-hour race, BMW later branched out and included its production cars.

The latest addition to the Art Car Collection comes in the form of Olufar Eliasson’s BMW H2R project. Returning to the series’ racing roots, Eliasson has transformed the hydrogen-powered car, and is currently being exhibited in ‘Your mobile expectations H2R project’ as part of his retrospective show at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

The Art Car concept — Alexander Calder, Art Car, 1975, BMW 3.0 CSL. Initially the Art Car concept was developed by auctioneer and racing driver Herve Poulain, and thus the collection was born. In fact, it was his friend and artist Alexander Calder who created the first design, transforming Poulain’s BMW racing car into a work of art (pictured), which he later raced at Le Mans

Frank Stella, Art Car, 1976, BMW 3.0 CLS

Ken Done, Art Car, 1989, BMW M3 group A racing version

Ken Done, Art Car, 1989, BMW M3 group A racing version

Alexander Calder, Art Car, 1975, BMW 3.0 CSL

Roy Lichtenstein, Art Car, 1977, BMW 320i group 5 racing version

Robert Rauschenberg, Art Car, 1986, BMW 635 CSi

Ernst Fuchs, Art Car, 1982, BMW 635i CSi

Michael Jagamara Nelson, Art Car, 1989, BMW M3 group A racing version

Esther Mahlangu, Art Car, 1991, BMW 525i

David Hockney, Art Car, 1995, BMW 850 CSi

BMW Art Car miniature Andy Warhol on large scale

BMW Art Car miniature Ernst Fuchs on large scale

Sandro Chia, Art Car, 1992, BMW 3 Series saloon-car racing prototype

Robert Rauschenbetg, Art Car, 1986, BMW 635 CSi

Frank Stella, Art Car, 1976, BMW 3.0 CSL

BMW’s racing roots for its latest Art Car

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Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.

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