Andy Warhol BMW Art Car Comes to Dubai
The BMW Art Car Collection marks its 50th anniversary with a regional debut that brings together the worlds of high art and automotive innovation. As part of Art Dubai 2025, BMW Group Middle East is unveiling one of its most iconic pieces — the Andy Warhol-designed BMW M1 Art Car — for the very first time in the region.
Warhol’s creation stands as one of the most celebrated in the 20-car collection. In 1979, the artist transformed the newly designed BMW M1 with just 28 minutes of bold brushstrokes and over six kilograms of paint. His intention was simple yet powerful: to depict speed in motion, blurring lines and colours to echo the velocity and energy of the car itself. The result was a vivid expression of movement, applied directly onto the car’s body, turning the racetrack vehicle into a lasting piece of contemporary art.
The Art Car’s arrival in Dubai is more than a moment for automotive enthusiasts — it signals BMW’s ongoing commitment to fostering cultural exchange in the Middle East. By aligning its automotive heritage with the region’s expanding creative landscape, BMW continues to deepen its dialogue with the art community.
Warhol, a defining figure in the Pop Art movement, was known for bridging the gap between consumer culture and fine art. The BMW M1 Art Car is a prime example of that intersection — where engineering meets expression, and speed becomes subject. Its only competitive appearance at the 1979 24 Hours of Le Mans solidified its legacy, finishing sixth overall and second in its class.
This year’s showcase at Art Dubai offers a rare opportunity to witness a piece of global art history up close — one that encapsulates five decades of collaboration between BMW and the art world, and now, a new chapter in the Middle East.
