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BMW is hosting an exhibition at BMW Welt in Munich that brings together all 20 Art Cars created over the past five decades, a first in the collection’s history. The display runs from 29 July to 31 August 2026 and coincides with the conclusion of a global tour that visited more than 30 countries. Olafur Eliasson’s BMW H2R Project, a frozen hydrogen-powered prototype, will be shown as a complete installation for only the fourth time worldwide. The exhibition is open daily from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm with free admission.

The BMW Art Car Collection began in 1975 when French racing driver and art auctioneer Hervé Poulain commissioned artist Alexander Calder to design a racing car. Jochen Neerpasch, then Head of BMW Motorsport, recalled the project as an unexpected success that launched what is now recognized as the world’s most important automotive art series. The exhibition at BMW Welt traces the collection’s evolution, featuring works by artists such as Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, and Julie Mehretu, alongside BMW’s design and technological milestones.

The exhibition is structured chronologically, beginning with the most recent additions—Julie Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8 and John Baldessari’s BMW Art Car #19—and moving backward to Calder’s original BMW 3.0 CSL. Olafur Eliasson’s BMW H2R Project, installed on the East forecourt, replaces the car’s body with a reflective metal mesh frozen in layers of ice, weighing approximately two tonnes and illuminated from within. The display includes introductory videos and a timeline that contextualizes the artistic and technological developments behind each piece.

Visitors can enhance their experience through digital tools, including the Artlas app, which offers personalized tours, background information, and an AI chat feature verified by curators. A complementary Treasure Hunt app rewards exploration with a voucher for refreshments at Cooper’s Garden after scanning five Art Cars. The exhibition shop will sell a newly reprinted book, 1:43 scale models of Calder’s and Lichtenstein’s Art Cars, and limited-edition pieces from Cao Fei’s Art Car Capsule Collection. Guided tours in German and English are available twice daily.