Often an art car happens without the permission or even the prior knowledge of the company who initially made the car. It makes sense, after all, because once you drive the car off the forecourt it belongs to you and you can do whatever you like with it. So the art car has not become a major part of the car maker’s thinking in many cases, being simply an artistic expression for the ideas of the person who creates one. However, this is not always the case. Indeed, over a period of time BMW have shown an interest in the idea to the extent where they commissioned artists to make a BMW into an art car.

The idea began in 1975, and included artists such as Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Frank Stella. Since then the art cars have been housed in BMW’s own museum in Munich, periodically being allowed out to travel the world as part of the tours they have undertaken. This year that will include a spell in Los Angeles, followed by a fortnight in New York before they head to Mexico. These amazing works of art are attracting the great and good from Hollywood to come out and have a look right now, so why not check and see when they will be near you?