The 14th BMW Art Car

David Hockney's Art Car design puts a new spin on the traditional idea of a car's paintwork by effectively turning the car inside out. “I thought it would be a good idea to show the car as if one could see inside,” he said. Like an X-ray, Hockney's design reveals the anatomy of the car and its occupants: the door sports an outline of the driver, and Hockney's loyal dachshund, Stanley, can be seen sitting on the back seat, referencing the artist's love of his dogs. Stylised engine components are depicted on the bonnet, while expanses of green sweep across the body – a visual metaphor for the passing scenery, movement, and time. Hockney's visual language melds the car's interior and the outside world to create a new and unusual perspective on motoring.

Born in Bradford, England, in 1937, David Hockney has been one of the most flamboyant and influential protagonists on the international art scene since the early 1960s. He graduated from the Royal College of Art in 1962 and soon joined the exclusive circles of Swinging Sixties London. He established his style as his very own form of international Pop Art and achieved great popularity with it. His works – among them iconic images depicting swimming pools and Californian landscapes – illustrate his lifelong fascination with light, colour, and the relationship between perspective and movement.

David Hockney's Art Car was intended solely as an exhibition piece and has never been driven on the road or in a race.