David Hockney’s BMW Art Car Shown at Art Basel Qatar

BMW presents David Hockney’s 1995 BMW Art Car at the inaugural Art Basel Qatar in Doha, highlighting the BMW Art Car World Tour and cultural engagement.

BMW Group is marking the launch of the inaugural edition of Art Basel Qatar by presenting one of the most iconic works from its cultural programme: David Hockney’s BMW Art Car from 1995. The presentation takes place in Doha from 3 to 7 February 2026 and forms part of the BMW Art Car World Tour, created to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary collection of “rolling sculptures”.

For the debut of Art Basel in Qatar, BMW has chosen a work long regarded as one of the most conceptually radical in the history of the Art Car project. Hockney rejected conventional automotive paintwork and transformed the BMW 850 CSi into an X-ray-like vision, revealing the driver, passenger, engine components and the sense of motion itself. Conceived purely as an exhibition piece, the car has never been driven on public roads or used in competition.

The Art Car is displayed at Sahat Wadi Msheireb Plaza, a central public space in Msheireb Downtown Doha, an area that has emerged in recent years as a hub for culture and creative industries. Within this setting, the vehicle moves beyond the museum context, becoming part of the city’s public realm.

Alongside the presentation, BMW is hosting the BMW Lounge at M7. Open throughout the fair, the space offers visitors curated insights into the history of the BMW Art Car Collection through models and interpretative material. An opening reception features contributions from artist Christoph Niemann, Tom Eccles, Executive Director of the Centre for Curatorial Studies at Bard College, and Professor Thomas Girst, Head of Cultural Engagement at BMW Group, reflecting on the ongoing dialogue between contemporary art, automotive innovation and cultural legacy.

BMW’s presence at Art Basel Qatar continues a partnership with Art Basel that spans more than two decades. As an Associate Partner of the fair worldwide, the company also supports the VIP car service, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the international art scene. The Doha presentation further strengthens the Middle Eastern chapter of the BMW Art Car World Tour, following earlier regional exhibitions.

Founded in 1975 with Alexander Calder’s BMW 3.0 CSL, the BMW Art Car Collection has grown over five decades to include 20 vehicles created by artists such as Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Jeff Koons and Julie Mehretu. Within this lineage, David Hockney’s Art Car remains a defining work, illustrating how the automobile can function as a fully autonomous artistic statement.

The arrival of Art Basel Qatar and the presentation of Hockney’s BMW Art Car position Doha as a new focal point in the global cultural calendar, highlighting a region that is increasingly engaged in conversations at the intersection of art, design and technology.