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The 2025 edition of Art Dubai, which ran from April 18 to 20 at Madinat Jumeirah, hosted a landmark event as BMW showcased the iconic BMW M1 Art Car painted by legendary artist Andy Warhol. This rare appearance marks the car’s debut in the Middle East, as part of the BMW Art Car World Tour, celebrating 50 years of the BMW Art Car Collection. Warhol’s distinctive M1, created in just 28 minutes in 1979, will be on display at the prestigious fair, adding a touch of artistic history to the vibrant art scene of Dubai.
BMW’s longstanding support of Art Dubai continues this year with a significant contribution to the fair’s expansive programming. The event, known as one of the most important global art gatherings in the Middle East, has become a key platform for the region’s growing creative economy. It features around 120 contemporary, modern, and digital galleries from over 40 countries. Art Dubai engages audiences with artist commissions, educational initiatives, and prominent conference programming, including the Global Art Forum and Digital Summit.
As part of the fair’s talks series, BMW will host an exclusive Art Talk titled “Driven by Art: Are Commissions and Co-creations the Future?” on April 17. This thought-provoking discussion will feature international panellists Azu Nwagbogu, Hans Ulrich Obrist, and Dr. Stephanie Rosenthal, moderated by Prof. Dr. Thomas Girst, Global Head of BMW Group Cultural Engagement. The panel will explore the cultural phenomenon of co-creation and artistic commissions, using the BMW Art Car Initiative as a key example of art and technology collaboration.
This year’s celebration of the BMW Art Car Collection also marks a significant milestone: the 50th anniversary of a project that began in 1975 when French racing driver Hervé Poulain invited artist Alexander Calder to paint the BMW 3.0 CSL. Since then, the initiative has brought together renowned artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons, and Esther Mahlangu, each transforming a BMW vehicle into a unique work of art. As part of the BMW Art Car World Tour 2025, Art Dubai will showcase Warhol’s work as a focal point of the global tour, reinforcing BMW’s commitment to promoting artistic dialogue and cultural exchange across continents.
