Artist Julie Mehretu collaborates with BMW to design a groundbreaking BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car for the 24-Hour race of Le Mans in 2024.
Internationally acclaimed artist Julie Mehretu has been chosen by BMW to create the 20th installment of their iconic Art Car collection. The announcement was made at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, where Mehretu was unveiled as the creative partner for this prestigious project. With complete artistic freedom, Mehretu will shape the design of the BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car, which will compete in the 24-Hour race of Le Mans in June 2024.
For nearly 50 years, the BMW Art Car collection has fascinated art enthusiasts, motorsport lovers, and design aficionados alike. Renowned artists such as Alexander Calder, Andy Warhol, and Jeff Koons have previously lent their artistic vision to this unique collaboration between art and technology.
Born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Julie Mehretu is now based in New York. Her work explores the palimpsests of history, representing contemporary experiences, social behaviors, and the psychogeography of space. Her artistic achievements have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the MacArthur Award and the US Department of State Medal of Arts Award.
Julie Mehretu’s passion for cars and the possibilities they represent drives her excitement for this project. She states, “The thrill of the speed, the 24-Hour race of Le Mans, and what is possible to invent in hybrid and fully electric vehicles as future modes of play and pushing ahead into new terrains of transportation and motorsports.” Her enthusiasm for exploring the intersection of art, technology, and mobility is palpable.
The BMW M Hybrid V8 serves as Mehretu’s canvas, a powerful race car with a hybrid drive system generating around 640 horsepower. This exceptional vehicle competes in the GTP class of the North American IMSA endurance racing series and will also participate in the FIA World Endurance Championship, including the renowned 24 Hours of Le Mans.
In addition to her role as the artistic creator of the BMW Art Car, Mehretu’s collaboration with BMW extends beyond the race track. With Mehret Mandefro, co-founder of the Realness Institute, Mehretu will host a series of translocal media workshops in African cities. These gatherings will provide a platform for artists to convene, exchange ideas, and collaborate, fostering new pathways towards civic futures within their communities.
The culmination of these workshops and the finished BMW Art Car will be exhibited at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town in 2025, promising a lasting cultural impact beyond racing and art.
With Julie Mehretu joining the ranks of influential artists who have contributed to the BMW Art Car Collection, the fusion of technology, design, and artistic expression continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Stay tuned as the unveiling of Mehretu’s BMW Art Car approaches, promising a breathtaking testament to the harmonious marriage of art and racing.
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