One of South Africa’s most famous BMWs is coming home after 32 years

The 12th BMW Art Car painted by Esther Mahlangu in 1991 is coming back to South Africa after 32 years abroad.

Upon its arrival in early 2024, the Ndebele-patterned 525i will be on show at the Iziko Museum in Cape Town for one year for admirers to behold, and thereafter it will resume its international travels to the UK and USA.

“It always was intended right from the get-go that this should be a traveling art exhibition to go all over the world. Yes, indeed, it does belong to BMW, but BMW has a commitment to all its market areas to take the car [around the globe],” said Chris Moerdyk, former head of strategic planning at BMW, on Cape Talk.

Mahlangu’s Art Car is one of only 20 ever made – the 20th of which will be unveiled in June 2024. It sits among good company, joined by the likes of other Art Cars painted by Andy Warhol, Ken Dones, César Manrique, and Jeff Koons, to name a few.

With its striking Ndebele-influenced shapes and colours, the Mahlangu 525i stands out from the iconic series of vehicles as it is nothing like its peers.

“The South African [Art Car] was particularly well received wherever it went, just simply because it was so colourful and so different to anything else,” said Moerdyk.

A work of art never to be driven

Recognized as a leading exponent of Ndebele art, Mahlangu was approached in 1991 to hand paint one of BMW’s most cutting-edge vehicles, her craft providing a striking contrast to such a top-end, high-tech model of the time.

Practicing on a door panel to enable her to gain a feel of the medium completely different from her existing experience, Mahlangu was challenged but also honoured to join the esteemed artists that came before her.

When she was ready, Mahlangu painted directly onto a white BMW 525i, transforming it in a little over a week to the legendary Art Car that is still being proudly presented in many countries to this day.

The finished sedan was launched in Australia, said Moerdyk, and made appearances at three exhibitions of Art Cars in Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town in late 1991. Thereafter, it flew to Germany and traveled the globe together with the balance of the collection.

The South African-inspired BMW will remain exclusively a work of art and will never be driven on the road.

“My art has evolved from the tribal tradition of decorating our homes. The patterns I have used on the BMW Art Car marry tradition to the essence of BMW.” — Esther Mahlangu

Back when it was unveiled, Mahlangu’s Art Car was the first one of its kind to be signed by a woman. She has since been joined by three more.

The 19 Art Cars that are currently part of the collection can be seen below, with number 20 to be added in mid-2024.