\n Istanbul\/Munich. Contemporary Istanbul, Turkey\u2019s
\n leading international art fair, will celebrate its 20th edition from
\n 24\u201328 September 2025 at Tersane Istanbul. The 2025 edition reflects
\n two decades of growth for the fair, which has become a vital meeting
\n point for collectors, artists, and institutions from across the region
\n and beyond. This year\u2019s fair programme includes a curated selection of
\n galleries from around the world and landmark institutional
\n collaborations. As part of the BMW Art Car World Tour, the very first
\n BMW Art Car, designed by Alexander Calder, and the latest addition to
\n the collection by Julie Mehretu #20 will be exhibited on the ground.<\/p>\n
Contemporary Istanbul takes its place on the global stage as part of
\n the ever-expanding BMW Art Car World Tour, a journey that will span
\n continents and continue well into 2026. Marking the 50th anniversary
\n of this iconic series, the tour brings together a constellation of
\n exhibitions across five continents, enriched by a vibrant array of
\n events. With Istanbul now joining the ranks of world capitals and
\n premier cultural gatherings, the city cements its status as a vital
\n hub in the international art landscape. The exhibited Art Cars will be
\n shown side by side for the first time in Turkey at the BMW Lounge in
\n the partner section of Contemporary Istanbul and reflect the breadth
\n and diversity of the BMW Art Car Collection. A dedicated BMW Art Talk
\n as part of the fair\u2019s CIF Dialogues featuring Head of BMW Group
\n Cultural Engagement Thomas Girst will dive deep into the history and
\n individual anecdotes of the 20 rolling sculptures.<\/p>\n
\n Alexander Calder\u2019s BMW 3.0 CSL laid the foundation
\n for the iconic series when French racing driver and art dealer Herv\u00e9
\n Poulain, together with then BMW Head of Motorsport Jochen Neerpasch,
\n asked his artist friend Calder to paint a car. The completely
\n reimagined 3.0 CSL patterned in red, yellow, blue, and white went on
\n to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1975 and became a crowd
\n favorite. Alexander Calder (1898-1976) was an American sculptor and
\n artist and is regarded as one of the most influential exponents of
\n Classical Modernism. He began his career as an engineer before turning
\n to art. His most famous works are his mobiles \u2013 light, free-moving
\n sculptures that are set in motion by air currents or electric motors \u2013
\n and his static, often-monumental metal sculptures known as “stabiles”.<\/p>\n
The Ethiopian born, New York based abstract painter Julie
\n Mehretu created the latest and 20th car in the collection
\n from a\u00a0BMW M Hybrid V8 in 2024 where it premiered at
\n the Centre Pompidou in Paris and hit the racetrack at the 24 Hours of
\n Le Mans. Space, movement, and energy have always been central motifs
\n in Mehretu’s work. For her Art Car design she transformed a
\n two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional representation, with
\n which she succeeded in bringing dynamism into form. Mehretu used the
\n color and form vocabulary of her monumental painting \u201cEverywhen\u201d
\n (2021-2023) as a starting point for her design. Its abstract visual
\n form results from digitally altered photographs, which are
\n superimposed in several layers of dot grids, neon-colored veils, and
\n the black markings characteristic of Mehretu’s work.<\/p>\n
The BMW Art Car World Tour charts an ambitious course, with stops at
\n prestigious destinations such as Art Basel Hong Kong, Le Mans Classic
\n in France, Belgium\u2019s Zoute Grand Prix, the Shanghai Motor Show in
\n China, and Italy\u2019s Concorso d\u2019Eleganza, among others. Showcasing the
\n collection of 20 iconic BMW Art Cars, the tour serves as a testament
\n to the company\u2019s deep-rooted commitment to global cultural
\n engagement\u2014spanning more than a hundred initiatives across
\n contemporary art, music, film, and design.<\/p>\n
\n Contemporary Istanbul 2025 highlights and institutional
\n collaborations
Contemporary Istanbul\u2019s 20th fair edition
\n also deepens its engagement with leading museums and art organisations
\n worldwide. Special presentations will include contributions from the
\n UBS Digital Art Museum (Hamburg), Sigg Art Foundation (Le Castellet),
\n and others, underlining the fair\u2019s commitment to international dialogue.<\/p>\n
\n CI 20 focus: America
The fair\u2019s curated Focus
\n Section this year will spotlight the contemporary art scene in the
\n United States, with a particular emphasis on New York. Titled Focus
\n America, the programme will explore the country\u2019s role in shaping
\n global cultural narratives and foster new connections among artists,
\n curators, and collectors. Institutional leaders from major US museums
\n will take part in a series of panels, exhibitions, and networking events.<\/p>\n
\n CIF Dialogues: \u201cDispersing Coordinates\u201d
CIF\u2019s
\n annual conference, \u201cDialogues\u201d, returns this year under the theme
\n \u201cDispersing Coordinates: Istanbul and the Shifting Map of Art.\u201d The
\n programme will reflect on global cultural shifts and Istanbul\u2019s
\n evolving position in the art world. Confirmed speakers include
\n Jennifer Stockman (Honorary President, Guggenheim Museum), and Anne
\n Pasternak (Director, Brooklyn Museum).<\/p>\n
For more information and press accreditation: \n Contemporary Istanbul Dates The BMW Group’s Cultural Engagement, with exclusive updates and
www.contemporaryistanbul.com<\/a><\/p>\n
24 September:
\n Preview
25 \u2013 28 September: General Admission
BMW Lounge
\n presence at Rixos Tersane Partner Section
BMW Art Talk at CIF
\n Dialogues, 24 September at 3:30pm<\/p>\n
\n deeper insights into its global initiatives can be followed on
\n Instagram at @BMWGroupCulture<\/a>.<\/p>\n