Julie Mehretu Unveils Bold BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car at Pompidou Center Ahead of Le Mans Debut

Julie Mehretu transforms the BMW M Hybrid V8 into her latest canvas, blending abstract art with racing engineering for the 20th BMW Art Car.

A New Canvas at 200 MPH

Julie Mehretu, the renowned Ethiopian American painter, has created the 20th BMW Art Car by transforming the BMW M Hybrid V8—a plug-in hybrid endurance racer built with Dallara—into a vibrant work of art. The livery pulls from Mehretu's painting "Everywhen," layering sweeping color washes and bold black streaks across the car's low, wide body to evoke motion and speed. The official unveiling took place at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the car is scheduled to race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

From Calder to Mehretu: A 50-Year Legacy

The BMW Art Car project began in 1975 when French driver Hervé Poulain asked Alexander Calder to paint his BMW 3.0 CSL. Since then, luminaries like Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and Jenny Holzer have turned racing machines into mobile galleries. Each car fuses top-tier engineering with a personal artistic vision, creating a unique bridge between contemporary art and motorsport. Mehretu's addition continues this tradition, bringing her signature abstract style to the racetrack.

Adapting Art to Aerodynamics

Mehretu immersed herself in the M Hybrid V8's design, studying its low silhouette and massive rear wing. She envisioned "Everywhen" as if it were passing through the car, with color and line flowing across the bodywork. Collaborating closely with BMW engineers, she adapted the artwork to the vehicle's contours without compromising aerodynamic performance. Advanced printing techniques preserved the texture and vibrancy of her original canvas, achieving a seamless fusion of art and machine.

An Artist of Global Perspective

Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mehretu moved to the United States at age seven and earned her MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. Her work often explores themes of migration, colonialism, and globalization, using layered lines and shapes drawn from technical diagrams and urban plans. She has received a MacArthur Fellowship and the US Department of State Medal of Arts Award. With the BMW Art Car, her narratives reach a wider audience through the high-speed arena of endurance racing.

Where Art Drives Innovation

The BMW Art Car series shows how creativity can push technological boundaries. Mehretu's collaboration pushed both art and engineering forward, resulting in a race-ready vehicle that is also a compelling visual statement. As the car takes the track at Le Mans, it stands as a moving testament to how art can transform our understanding of speed, engineering, and human imagination.