The 12th BMW Art Car

South African painter Esther Mahlangu's Art Car design translates traditional Ndebele painting onto an object representing modern technology. “My art has evolved from our tribal tradition of decorating our homes,” she said of her work – the characteristic geometric patterns and vivid colours that adorn the BMW 525i are usually found on the façades of houses. In order to develop a feel for the completely new medium, Mahlangu initially painted the door of another BMW before she started on the Art Car, which she transformed into a masterpiece of Ndebele art in just a week. Mahlangu was the first woman and the first African artist to design an Art Car.

Born in South Africa in 1935, Esther Mahlangu was taught the traditional painting techniques of the Ndebele tribe by her mother. Creating these well-known murals, with a distinctive style featuring typical Ndebele patterns, is the exclusive domain of women. Today, Esther Mahlangu is considered the leading proponent of this art form, and her work has been exhibited in prestigious museums such as the British Museum in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The Iziko Museums of South Africa in Cape Town honoured the artist for the first time in 2024 with a major museum retrospective. Through her art, she upholds the traditions of her tribe, and she began passing on her knowledge to her daughter many years ago.

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