BMW Art Car World Tour Stops in Türkiye at Contemporary Istanbul 2025

Alexander Calder’s first BMW Art Car and Julie Mehretu’s #20 shown together for the first time in Türkiye during Contemporary Istanbul’s 20th edition.

This September, Istanbul steps into the spotlight of the global art calendar as Contemporary Istanbul marks its 20th anniversary with an ambitious program and becomes part of the BMW Art Car World Tour. From 24 to 28 September, the historic Tersane Istanbul venue will host two icons of the collection: the very first Art Car, created by Alexander Calder for the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1975, and the latest work by Julie Mehretu, who transformed a BMW M Hybrid V8 into a vibrant three-dimensional abstraction. For the first time in Türkiye, the two cars will be shown side by side, turning the BMW Lounge into a dialogue between the origins of the series and its future.

The stop in Istanbul underlines CI’s role as a major cultural hub. Over two decades, the fair has grown into a meeting point for collectors, galleries, and artists from Europe, the Middle East, and the United States, attracting tens of thousands of visitors each year. This edition introduces a special Focus America section, highlighting New York’s influence on global cultural narratives. Institutional leaders such as Jennifer Stockman from the Guggenheim Museum and Anne Pasternak from the Brooklyn Museum will join panels and discussions.

A highlight of the week will be the BMW Art Talk as part of the CIF Dialogues, where Thomas Girst, Head of BMW Group Cultural Engagement, will trace the creation of all 20 rolling sculptures and share little-known stories behind them. For fans of art and motorsport, this is a rare chance to see Calder’s and Mehretu’s cars together — two artists from different generations united by a fascination with movement and form.

The anniversary tour will continue beyond Istanbul, with upcoming stops at Le Mans Classic, the Zoute Grand Prix, the Concorso d’Eleganza, and other major events across five continents. For Istanbul, joining this itinerary is more than prestige — it reinforces the city’s growing reputation as a crossroads of Europe and Asia in the international art world.