Jesse James
Way back in 1975 the French racecar driver Herve Poulain spoke with Andy Warhol about providing a custom paint job for his BMW 3.0 CSL race car. The two were good friends, and Mr. Warhol agreed to lend his talents, providing a colorful result that is a piece of racing and automotive history. Poulain drove the eye-catching BMW 3.0 CSL race car in that year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, kick-starting the art car series that has expanded incredibly over the years. Since the creation of Andy Warhol’s BMW M1 Art Car in 1975 other artists have gone on to use BMW’s as canvases, turning power and performance into a stunning pieces art and craftsmanship.
Mr. Warhol’s BMW art car was not just the first, but perhaps the most famous BMW Art Car, a bold, colorful array that is sure to grab some attention. The project was completed in just thirty minutes, using broad brush strokes combined with a loose, abstract style. When photographer Stephan Bauer won BMW’s social media photography competition, he chose this legendary machine as his subject for a photoshoot, which you can see below.
This car is more than just an example of Andy Warhol’s art, it’s the car that started BMW’s Art Car craze; which hasn’t slowed down since. Take a closer look at Andy Warhol’s BMW M1 Art Car in the images below and learn more about the vehicle from BMW right now. Be sure to stay tuned for more art, more cars, and hopefully more BMW Art Cars coming soon.
Photos via Stephan Bauer/BMW
