Knokke-Heist. The BMW Art Car World Tour arrives in Belgium at the Zoute Grand Prix, celebrating five decades of artistic innovation. From New York to Istanbul, and from Hong Kong to Knokke-Heist, the tour connects cultures through a shared fascination for creativity and speed. Visitors will have the opportunity to admire iconic BMW Art Cars set against the backdrop of the Zoute Grand Prix (8-12 October 2025), an event renowned for celebrating automotive heritage, design elegance, and the timeless beauty of classic automobiles. The unique convergence of art and motoring provides a rare chance for the public to witness the seamless fusion of engineering and creative vision into a truly singular experience.
The presence of BMW Art Cars in Belgium highlights the global impact of the BMW Art Car initiative and its ability to connect diverse audiences through bold and compelling visual storytelling. By pairing the Art Car exhibition with the Zoute Grand Prix, BMW and the event organisers foster a dialogue between the timeless romance of classic cars and the ever-evolving language of contemporary art. This juxtaposition invites reflection on the intersection of movement, form, and identity— and how design continues to bring life into heritage.
The BMW Art Cars arriving in Belgium have travelled from across the world, including Julie Mehretu BMW M Hybrid V8, which was recently exhibited in New York and Istanbul. It joins masterpieces by Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Robert Rauschenberg, Matazo Kayama, Cesar Manrique, Esther Mahlangu, David Hockney, and Jeff Koons for this very special public presentation.
Another milestone is that 2025 marks the centenary of Robert Rauschenberg’s birth, offering a unique opportunity to celebrate the achievements of this pioneering American artist. This occasion will be commemorated with a year-long programme of international exhibitions and events. These will highlight his enduring influence on subsequent generations of artists and his dedication to social progress.
The the Zoute Grand Prix. Held annually in Knokke-Heist, the Zoute Grand Prix is one of Europe’s most prestigious automotive events, where heritage, design, and innovation come together. The gathering unites collectors, enthusiasts, and creators to celebrate automotive culture.
For more information, please visit:https://www.zoutegrandprix.be/en
Celebrating 50 Years: The BMW Art Car Collection.The BMW Art Car initiative came from French racing driver and art dealer Hervé Poulain, who, together with then BMW Head of Motorsport Jochen Neerpasch, asked his artist friend Alexander Calder to paint a car. The result was a completely reimagined BMW 3.0 CSL, which went on to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1975 and became a crowd favorite. In the years that followed, art icons like Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, Esther Mahlangu, David Hockney, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons, and Julie Mehretu have enriched the collection, each in their own individual style.
The BMW vehicles that have been turned into works of art using a wide variety of graphic and artistic techniques are as different as the artists themselves – from pure racing thoroughbreds to production vehicles and rare sports cars. The results are all vastly different. No two vehicles are alike. BMW Art Car artists are selected by an independent worldwide jury of museum directors and curators, and the artist always maintains complete creative freedom throughout the entire process.
BMW Group’s global cultural engagement and updates on the Art Car World Tour can be followed on Instagram at @BMWGroupCulture.