Haute 100 Update: Jeff Koons’ Art Car To Make US Debut at Art Basel

Recently deemed the most expensive living artist, Jeff Koons is continuing his reign in the spotlight with the American debut of his BMW Art Car at Art Basel in Miami. “It is with great pride we bring the Jeff Koons Art Car to the US and present it for the first time publically in North America,” Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW North America, stated in a press release. Joining the ranks of art world greats like Andy Warhol, Jenny Holzer, Roy Lichtenstein and A.R. Penck, Koons painted a 2010 BMW M3 GT2 for the prestigious BMW Art Car Collection.

Offering insight into the excitement of a car canvas, Koons told BMW Group, “You can participate with it, add to it and let yourself transcend with its energy.  There is a lot of power under that hood and I want to let my ideas transcend with the car—it’s really to connect with that power.”

The luxury sports car is painted in a manner to form the appearance of a speeding car. Vibrant colors stream down the sides of the car creating bold cartoonish graphics. Featured on the side of the streamlined car is the number 79 in recognition of the year Warhol painted a BMW M1. The explosively decorated innovative medium will be featured amongst the work of 2,000 other influential artists on loan from galleries and museums across the globe.

“Koons wanted to design a BMW Art Car because of the tradition set forth by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and other great American artists,” Willisch explained.

Koons’ Art Car will be on display beside the inspiring Warhol Art Car from December 5 to the 8 at Art Basel in Miami.