Amit Saraswat 
The highly anticipated 20th BMW Art Car, designed by renowned artist Julie Mehretu, was finally revealed in Paris. Chosen back in 2018, Mehretu’s design brings her artistic vision to the racetrack, adorning the BMW M Hybrid V8 that will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.
Mehretu’s signature style, a blend of painting, drawing, and printmaking, takes on a new dimension as it’s translated onto the three-dimensional form of the race car. Inspired by her own 2021-2023 piece “Everywhen,” the design pushes the boundaries of both art and automotive engineering.
“The idea was to make a remix, a mash-up of the painting,” Mehretu explains. “I kept seeing that painting kind of dripping into the car. Even the kidneys of the car inhaled the painting.” This artistic transformation adds a new chapter to Mehretu’s artistic journey.
The BMW Art Car project boasts a rich history, featuring designs by artistic luminaries like Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Jenny Holzer, and Jeff Koons. Mehretu’s car will carry the fitting starting number 20 and be driven by the trio of Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns, and René Rast.
Beyond the artistic spectacle, the project has a social impact component. BMW, producer Mehret Mandefro, and Mehretu herself have established a series of Pan-African media workshops planned for 2025. These workshops aim to cultivate “creative potential across the African continent” by providing a platform for artists to collaborate, exchange ideas, and “develop new pathways towards a just civic future in their respective communities.”
The workshops will span seven cities across Africa: Dakar, Senegal; Marrakech, Morocco; Kigali, Rwanda; Lagos, Nigeria; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Mehretu’s birthplace); Cape Town, South Africa; and Zanzibar, Tanzania. This initiative promises to foster artistic exchange and empower African creatives.
The unveiling of the 20th BMW Art Car marks a significant moment, not only for the world of racing art but also for its commitment to social responsibility. As Mehretu’s creation takes to the track, it carries the weight of artistic legacy and the promise of a brighter future for African artists.
