BMW Art Car World Tour Arrives in Milan for 50th Anniversary

Explore the BMW Art Car World Tour as it arrives in Milan at the ADI Design Museum, presenting eight iconic vehicles for the collection’s 50th anniversary.

The 50th anniversary of the BMW Art Car Collection brings the world tour to Milan, where one of its most extensive showcases of the year will take place. From 4 December 2025 to 8 January 2026, the ADI Design Museum will present eight vehicles that have shaped the intersection of contemporary art and automotive design.

This stop concludes a vibrant year for the touring collection. The Art Cars have already appeared at Art Basel Hong Kong, the Le Mans Classic in France, major events in the United States, as well as exhibitions in the Netherlands and Belgium. Milan now hosts the broadest selection of 2025, featuring works by Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, Esther Mahlangu, Sandro Chia, Jenny Holzer, Jeff Koons and the latest addition to the series, Julie Mehretu’s 2024 BMW Art Car.

Each vehicle represents a different chapter in the evolution of the Art Car concept. The early models from the 1970s embody the origins of the idea, first initiated by racing driver and art dealer Herve Poulain. The 1990s and 2000s expanded the collection with new artistic voices, exploring digital, conceptual and text-based approaches. Julie Mehretu’s recent work illustrates how today’s artists reinterpret the racing car as a dynamic canvas connected to cutting-edge technology.

The ADI Design Museum, housed in a repurposed industrial building, provides a fitting backdrop that highlights the dialogue between design, innovation and culture. The museum confirms that eight Art Cars will be on display, though detailed ticket information or special programmes has not yet been published. Opening hours remain consistent: daily from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., except on Fridays, with last admission at 7:15 p.m.

The global tour will continue through 2026. Paris and the Rétromobile show are next, where BMW plans to reunite all Art Cars that have competed at Le Mans. This upcoming event reinforces the cultural significance of a collection that has, for five decades, served as a bridge between engineering excellence and artistic expression.