BMW is marking a major double anniversary with a new exhibition at its Munich Museum, honouring 50 years of both the BMW 3 Series and the company’s legendary Art Car Collection. The showcase opens on June 17, shortly after the Le Mans 24 Hour race weekend, and will run until February 1, 2026.
The museum will spotlight three Art Cars based on the 3 Series family, each offering a unique interpretation of performance, culture and creativity. On display will be the 1989 BMW M3 Group A by Australian artist Ken Done, fellow Australian Michael Jagamara Nelson’s take on the same model, and the vivid 1992 BMW M3 GTR by Italian artist Sandro Chia.
The exhibition forms part of the global BMW Art Car World Tour – the most expansive public showing in the 50-year history of the rolling project. So far, the tour has visited 12 countries across five continents, engaging audiences across a mix of motorsport, gallery, and cultural events.
BMW is using the exhibition not only to revisit the origins and evolution of the Art Car program, but also to shine a light on the 3 Series itself – a model that has undoubtedly defined the sports sedan segment for half a century. First launched in 1975, the 3 Series has become synonymous with driving engagement, technical innovation and everyday usability.
Among the highlights, Ken Done’s colourful M3 celebrates the raw emotion and spectacle of motorsport, while Michael Jagamara Nelson’s version brings Indigenous Australian Dreaming stories to life through traditional dot painting. Sandro Chia’s M3 GTR, meanwhile, features expressive forms designed to reflect the shared spirit between man and machine.
Also on permanent display is the BMW 730i Art Car designed by Spanish artist César Manrique in 1990, continuing the museum’s long-standing tribute to this unique fusion of art and engineering.
Visitors to the BMW Museum can expect a rich blend of automotive heritage and artistic expression, with a heap of iconic and very rare models also on display.
