Celebrating the Art Car World Tour, the artist’s centennial, and BMW’s long‑term partnership with Art Basel
Munich/Hong Kong. As long-term partner of Art Basel for more than two decades, BMW presents Robert Rauschenberg’s BMW 635CSi Art Car of 1986, celebrating the centennial of the artist’s birth. On the occasion, and as part of the BMW Art Car World Tour, Rauschenberg’s iconic car will be presented for the first time ever in Asia.
For today’s opening reception at the BMW Lounge located at the HKCEC, Courtney J. Martin, Executive Director of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, commented, “We are thrilled that Rauschenberg’s Art Car (1986) will be having its debut in Asia at Art Basel Hong Kong 2026, concurrent with the exhibition Robert Rauschenberg and Asia at M+. As we celebrate what would have been Rauschenberg’s 100th birthday, the Art Car provides yet another reminder of his unconventional artistic practice. The artist referred to the work as a ‘drivable museum,’ and like so much of his oeuvre, it blurs the boundaries between art and life, painting and sculpture, art and technology.”
This milestone not only highlights the artist’s international legacy but also underscores BMW’s long-standing commitment to cultural engagement with hundreds of initiatives worldwide. Rauschenberg’s visionary “rolling sculpture”, which fuses art history, photography, and everyday culture, exemplifies the pioneering spirit at the intersection of art, technology, motorsport, and design that has defined the BMW Art Car Collection for five decades. BMW also continues its longstanding support for the fair’s VIP car service.
“I think mobile museums would be a good idea. This car is the fulfilment of my dream.”
– Robert Rauschenberg, 1986.
In a panel discussion entitled “Robert Rauschenberg and the Velocity of Art”, set to take place on Friday, March 27 at 1:45pm, the BMW Art Talk brings together leading international experts to discuss the continued impact of Rauschenberg’s innovative approach on culture, technology, and cross‑sector collaboration.
Russell Storer, Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs at M+ and curator of the exhibition “Rauschenberg and Asia” (until 26 April 2026), Dr Courtney J. Martin, Executive Director of the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation, and Prof Dr Thomas Girst, Global Head of Cultural Engagement at the BMW Group, will delve into the artist’s legacy from curatorial, institutional, and corporate perspectives.
