alexander calder | designboom.com

calder gardens: take a first look at herzog & de meuron and piet oudolf’s philadelphia oasis

kat barandy I designboom — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 14:01:59 +0000

Calder Gardens Opens as a Living Museum in Philadelphia

On September 21st, 2025, Philadelphia will see the opening of Calder Gardens, a new park and museum shaped by Herzog & de Meuron and Piet Oudolf. Rather than presenting a monumental museum, the project frames Alexander Calder’s work within a lush, layered landscape that gradually reveals its structure and galleries as visitors move inward from the city. The project occupies a city rich with the Calder family’s history. Alexander Calder’s grandfather and father both left their mark on Philadelphia, and works by all three generations line the Parkway.

From the Parkway, a long tapered metal wall forms an austere backdrop to the meadowed garden, softening the sound of nearby traffic and leading to a wood-lined entry beneath a folded metal canopy. The architecture remains deliberately understated. A circular disc at the center creates a plaza and conceals the main galleries below ground, while two sunken gardens — one perfectly round, the other irregular — bring daylight into the galleries and offer distinct settings for Calder’s sculpture.

Today, September 15th, designboom visited Calder Gardens ahead of its public opening to experience Piet Oudolf’s meadows in dialogue with Herzog & de Meuron’s architecture in-person — stay tuned for updates!

subdued architecture by herzog & de meuron

Inside, visitors to Philadelphia’s Calder Gardens descend from a modest lobby to a series of Herzog & de Meuron-designed galleries that vary in light and proportion. The ‘Highway Gallery’ offers a view of Calder mobiles from a mezzanine, while the ‘Open Plan Gallery,’ set beneath the central disc, receives natural light and frames views of the Vestige Garden. Smaller spaces such as the Apse and Curve galleries provide intimate settings for works on paper and light-sensitive sculptures. The architects plan each room to encourage a slow, careful encounter with Calder’s art.

Jason Frantzen, senior partner at Herzog & de Meuron, describes the project as ‘both an actual and a conceptual garden,’ designed in close collaboration with the Calder Foundation and the Barnes Foundation to honor Calder’s legacy while creating ‘a space for all Philadelphians and visitors alike to discover Calder’s work again and again.’

lush landscape design by piet oudolf

Piet Oudolf’s 1.8-acre landscape surrounds and threads through the architecture throughout Calder Gardens, transforming a once-overlooked site in Philadelphia into a shifting, four-season meadow. More than 250 plant varieties — grasses, perennials, and woodland species — form a living composition that changes with weather and time. Paths curve through woodlands, perennial meadows, and tall borders, drawing visitors toward the central disc and framing new views at every step.

From the West Woodland Garden’s young oaks to the late-summer prairie grasses that sway near the building’s edge, the landscape designer’s planting encourages a pace that’s slow and contemplative. The sunken Vestige and Sunken gardens, visible from the main galleries, are a living hybrid of art and landscape. As Oudolf notes, ‘Gardens are for everyone.’

project info:

name: Calder Gardens | @caldergardens

architect: Herzog & de Meuron | @herzogdemeuron

landscape designer: Piet Oudolf | @pietoudolf

location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

client: Calder Foundation| @calderfoundation

opening: September 21st, 2025

previous coverage: September 2022, January 2025

The post calder gardens: take a first look at herzog & de meuron and piet oudolf’s philadelphia oasis appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

explore sweden’s hypercar heaven: the aurora scandinavian concours returns

kat barandy I designboom — Wed, 02 Jul 2025 06:45:31 +0000

the aurora scandinavian concours 2025

The pastures and harbors along Sweden’s southwestern coast roar to life as the Aurora Scandinavian Concours returns for its second year. Here in Båstad, the fields are dotted with cows and iron-red holiday homes. Being over an hour’s drive north of Malmö means that the place is relatively remote. Even so, the elite automotive event brings gleaming supercars and rare classic restorations alike from across the world, with an international crowd of enthusiasts and collectors to follow — especially the famed ‘Porsche guy’ Magnus Walker with his hat full of roadside wildflowers.

designboom traveled to Båstad to join the three day-long concours, which took place from June 27th — 29th, 2025. Here it’s often noted that it’s Sweden’s answer to the Hamptons in New York. Many of its residents stay only for the summer season, and its sunny harbors are crowded with sailboats and yachts. With Scandinavian midsummer still in the air, it’s the idyllic place for exploring decades of the best in automotive design.

the Aurora Scandinavian Concours is held at Norrviken Gardens in Båstad, Sweden | image © designboom

The venue: norrviken Gardens

Among the most beloved destinations of this area is the Norrviken Gardens, where the stage is once again set for the Aurora Scandinavian Concours. It is a long-stretching oasis whose landscaped pockets reference various countries and time periods. A French-style promenade leads toward the Concours Stage while Japanese-inspired gardens trail down toward the ocean. Each perspective is a lush view fit for a postcard.

While the main Concours takes place here at Norrviken, the Aurora 2025 programming extends to the marine harbor at Båstad where the Aurora Yacht Show is held. For Concours participants the event spans further still, with a private tour and test drive at the Koenigsegg supercar factory, and a rally drive across the scenic roads of Sweden.

the Concours lineup includes sixty rare cars | image © designboom

the concours

Sixty of the world’s best and rarest cars thread the length of the main garden at Norrviken, a gleaming array which makes up the Aurora Scandinavian Concours. This collection exclusively displays cars of the highest global standard, the oldest being a 1926 Rolls-Royce Phantom, and the newest having just premiered at the event — the Koenigsegg Sadair’s Spear celebrates its world premiere at the Aurora (read here). Only thirty units of this ultra-lightweight megacar will ever be produced, and a shimmering example is displayed at the forefront of the Concours lineup.

A major highlight is a selection of rare cars by iconic Italian design studio Zagato — from a Maserati Mostro to an ISO Rivolta GTZ. The AGTZ Twin Tail, a radical idea which was unveiled just last year, was theatrically displayed both with and without its tail. Emphasizing the timeline of the studio‘s legacy, this brand-new model gazes onto a 1959 Porsche 356 Coupé, which neighbors a humble 1987 Aston Martin V8 Vantage.

AGTZ Twin Tail presented by Andrea Zagato (left) and host JP Rathgen (right) | image © designboom

Meanwhile, near the front of the Concours is a vibrant Ferrari F512 M, a rare model which debuted in 1994 and made even more rare when transformed into an Art Car by German painter Peter Klasen. Alongside the stage at the far end, a whispering Rolls Royce Black Badge Spectre glimmers in Vapor Violet.

As we overheard this weekend: ‘Ninety percent of good cars have a good story.’ With this in mind, one of our favorite cars is a unique Porsche 911 Targa, a retired Dutch police car. Across its hood reads Rijkspolitie — ‘national police’ in the Netherlands. The removable panel of its Targa roof means that police officers can stand on the seats and signal traffic. The police force drove these cars from the 1960s until the 1990s. Now in 2025, one example was at last test-driven by Magnus Walker during the Aurora weekend.

Outside the Concours itself, the more inclusive Aurora Showfield displays nearly four hundred more cars. It is open to more participants to showcase the full spectrum of car culture, ranging from grassroots enthusiasts to experienced collectors.

Dutch Rijkspolitie (State Police) Porsche 911 SC Targa at the Koenigsegg Test Track | image © designboom

the aurora awards

Beyond the display, these sixty Concours cars are competing for a prestigious award across eight categories, along with one award reserved for a non-Concours car. Each class celebrates a different facet of automotive excellence, from historic preservation to cutting-edge design and performance. The ceremony takes place on the final afternoon of the Aurora and draws a massive crowd to the main stage for a moment of shared anticipation. Trophies are presented by Michel Franssen, Concours President; Filip Larsson, CEO of The Aurora; and Marcus Berggren, Head of Concours, who together recognize the craftsmanship, provenance, and passion behind every vehicle on display.

1970 Lamborghini Miura P400, Best of Show – Classic Car Concours | image © designboom

Explore the award winning cars:

Best of Show – Classic Car Concours: 1970 Lamborghini Miura P400

Best of Show – Hypercar Concours: 2025 Koenigsegg CC850

Restomod Glory Class Winner: 2025 Kimera EVO38 Prototype 00 ‘Aurora’

Zagato Class Winner: 2019 ISO Rivolta GTZ by Zagato

Preservation Award: 1957 Talbot-Lago T14 LS 2500 Sport

President’s Award: 1973 Ferrari 365 GTS/4 ‘Daytona’ Spyder

Jury’s Choice: 1938 Lancia Astura Gran Lusso by Pininfarina

Elegance in Motion Class Winner: 1956 Mercedes-Benz 300 SL Alloy

Best of Showfield: 1948 Jaguar MK IV

2025 Kimera EVO38 Prototype 00 ‘Aurora’, Restomod Glory Class Winner | image © designboom

talks, Exhibitions and lounges

The Concours is complemented by a series of conversations, the Aurora Talks, whose lineup of speakers includes major automotive designers Andrea Zagato, Domagoj Dukec and Christian von Koenigsegg. Each speaker shares their perspective on how they challenged industry norms and became game-changers in the design world.

Visitors exploring the sprawling gardens meander between scattered exhibition spaces and lounges, with a Vogue Scandinavia lounge and Koenigsegg, Motikon and BMW exhibitions always on view. A highlight is BMW’s pavilion celebrating fifty years of Art Cars. This installation displays a selection of four BMW Art Cars, beginning with the first-ever example from 1975: a BMW 3.0 CSL which Alexander Calder painted with broad brushstrokes in just twenty-eight minutes. Other Art Cars on view include those by Roy Lichtenstein (1977), Andy Warhol (1979) and Jeff Koons (2010).

At the Vogue Scandinavia lounge, an activation shows artist duo Madelen and Robert Möllard hand-painting a new MINI Art Car in-person. The Swedish siblings of Maison Möllard are known for their dreamy botanical paintings and floral patterning, a clear celebration of the event’s summery Scandinavian context. 

Alexander Calder’s BMW Art Car displayed at the Aurora 2025 | image © designboom

the Aurora Tour

Ahead of the Concours’ public opening on June 27th, designboom joined the adrenaline-driven group of auto owners for a rally tour across the Swedish countryside. The exclusive tour is held for the most adventurous of the Concours participants. Over fifty rare vehicles can be spotted cruising by sunlit meadows and farmlands backdropped by distant wind farms, and the rural roads are often lined with waving Swedes.

The tour takes a rest-stop south of Båstad at the harbor Mölle Hamn. With the full group together, the scenic place becomes an elaborate pop-up auto show for the public. With the tour, collectors are able to drive and display their vehicles for one more day outside the exclusive context of the Norrviken Gardens.

a view of the Aurora Tour, held only for Concours participants and Concours cars | image © designboom

koenigsegg test track

With speed limits and road rules, these supercars don’t often get a chance to showcase their true potential. So the Aurora Tour’s final destination is the headquarters and test track of Swedish brand Koenigsegg. Established in 1994, it’s one of the youngest hypercar manufacturers and is located on a former military airfield in Ängelholm, Sweden. The hangars have been converted into production facilities, while a new design studio has been introduced with architecture led by Sebastian Von Koenigsegg, the son of the company founder Christian Von Koenigsegg.

Still, the airfields remain in operation and clients are even invited to fly directly to the studio for a private visit. On the occasion of the Aurora Tour, the test track is open for drivers to compete in a high-speed course — we were strapped into the passenger seat of a McLaren 675LT alongside its owner Peter Söderberg, who completed the course with the third-fastest time.

competing on the Koenigsegg test track | image courtesy The Aurora

The Koenigsegg Sadair’s Spear

Drivers in the Aurora Tour head inside the supercar factory for an exclusive look at Koenigsegg’s Sadair’s Spear ahead of its public unveiling, which took place the next day at the Concours. The car’s predecessor, the Koenigsegg Jesko, takes its name from Christian’s father, Jesko von Koenigsegg. He was an avid equestrian who raced into the 1970s. This newest model is a tribute to a racehorse named Sadair’s Spear, whom Jesko rode in his final race. Honoring its namesake, the car is engineered for track performance: 1,625 horsepower, 1,385 kg weight, and a 360 km/h (224 mph) top speed.

During the unveiling in his factory, Christian notes that the car debuts an advanced aero package that generates meaningful downforce earlier in the speed range. A new active, top-mounted double-blade rear wing, underfloor strakes, and wheel arch louvres all work together to improve stability and airflow.

exclusive on-site unveiling of the Koenigsegg Sadair’s Spear during the 2025 Aurora Tour | image © designboom

The Legacy of the Aurora

While it just concluded its second edition, the Aurora Scandinavian Concours is already setting its position among the most important global events like Italy’s Villa d’Este and California’s Pebble Beach. What separates the Aurora is its Scandinavian spirit. Because it avoids an atmosphere of urgency or hierarchy, and because of its Showfield class, it feels uniquely inclusive and relaxed. It’s sometimes said that other major concours suggest an ultra-formality and come with rigid scheduling. The team behind the Aurora has instead curated a collective experience which unfolds at each visitor’s own pace, and makes space for everyone.

crowds swarm the Koenigsegg Sadair’s Spear at the Aurora Concours 2025 | image © designboom

1993 Zagato Alfa Romeo SZ Trofeo | image © designboom

project info:

event: Aurora Scandinavian Concours | @theauroraconcours

location: Norrviken Gardens, Båstad, Sweden

dates: June 27th to 29th, 2025

photography: © designboom (unless otherwise stated)

The post explore sweden’s hypercar heaven: the aurora scandinavian concours returns appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

50 years of BMW art cars: look back at iconic models by andy warhol, jeff koons and more

matthew burgos I designboom — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 11:30:17 +0000

BMW Art car collection celebrates 50 years with world tour

On the occasion of BMW’s Art Car 50th anniversary, we dive into some of the most iconic models in the collection. These include Andy Warhol, Alexander Calder, Esther Mahlangu, Jeff Koons, Julie Mehretu, Cao Fei, John Baldessari, Jenny Holzer, Olafur Eliasson, and more. So far, there are 20 BMW Art Cars in the collection that artists have transformed into ‘rolling sculptures.’ They all exude art movements, from minimalism and pop art to abstraction and digital art. These art cars are set to go on a world tour, exhibiting them across five continents. The BMW Art Car World Tour begins in Europe and Asia. On March 20th and 21st, 2025, the models by Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg, David Hockney, and Jeff Koons are on display at the Museum of Applied Arts and the SPARK Art Fair in Vienna as part of the BMW Group Niederlassung Wien event ‘(R)Evolution of Art.’

The 20th BMW Art Car in the collection, the BMW M Hybrid V8 by Julie Mehretu, appears at Art Basel in Hong Kong from March 28th to 30th. The 13th Art Car by Sandro Chia shows up at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este at Lake Como in May 2025. Then in July and August, the Louwman Museum in The Hague presents eight BMW Art Cars collections in an exhibition. The BMW Museum also hosts an exhibition combining the anniversaries of the BMW Art Cars and the BMW 3 Series (the series marks its 50th anniversary in 2025). Starting June 16th, the museum showcases the history of all BMW 3 Series models as well as the BMW M3 Art Cars by Sandro Chia, Michael Jagamara Nelson, and Ken Done.

all images courtesy of BMW AG

Alexander Calder, 1975

BMW Art Car 1 by Alexander Calder | photo by Jean-Marie Bottequin

The first BMW Art Car in the collection is created in 1975 when artist Alexander Calder designs a bold livery for the BMW 3.0 CSL. Commissioned by auctioneer and racing driver Hervé Poulain, the project comes to life in collaboration with BMW Motorsport Director Jochen Neerpasch. Here, Alexander Calder applies his signature red, yellow, blue, and white patterns to the car.

The Calder-designed BMW 3.0 CSL makes its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1975. Sam Posey, Jean Guichet, and Hervé Poulain drive it, though it retires from the race after seven hours due to a mechanical failure. The artist’s influences for the BMW art car in this collection extend from engineering to avant-garde art, drawing inspiration from Piet Mondrian and Joan Miró.

Check out designboom’s coverage on Alexander Calder’s BMW Art Car here.

the Calder-designed BMW 3.0 CSL makes its debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1975 | photo by Enes Kucevic

Frank Stella, 1976

BMW Art Car 2 by Frank Stella | photo by Robert Kröschel

Frank Stella designs the BMW 3.0 CSL Art Car in the collection back in 1976, drawing on his early Abstract Minimalist Black Paintings. He creates a black-and-white grid pattern resembling oversized graph paper, inspired by the car’s precision engineering. The design highlights the contours and lines of the vehicle, reflecting technical accuracy. Applying the design requires extensive work over hundreds of hours.

Frank Stella’s BMW 3.0 CSL races at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1976, driven by Brian Redman and Peter Gregg, but technical issues prevent the car from finishing. A similar outcome occurs at the Dijon 6 Hours on 5 September 1976, with Ronnie Peterson and Gunnar Nilsson as drivers. During the 1960s, he becomes known for abstract color paintings exhibited worldwide. From the 1980s, he focuses on relief paintings and sculpture.

Frank Stella designs the BMW 3.0 CSL Art Car in the collection back in 1976 | photo by Enes Kucevic

Roy Lichtenstein, 1977

BMW Art Car 3 by Roy Lichtenstein

Roy Lichtenstein designs the BMW 320 Art Car of the collection to depict motion even when the car is stationary. The lines on the bodywork symbolize the road, while abstract representations of light and landscape suggest passing scenery. The doors display images of the sun, one rising and one setting, referencing the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Lichtenstein’s Art Car debuts twice—first at the Centre Pompidou in Paris as an artwork and then at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June 1977 as a race car.

Carrying the number 50 and driven by Hervé Poulain and Marcel Mignot, the BMW Art Car in the collection finishes ninth overall and first in its class. Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) is one of the founders of American Pop Art. His early works include Cubism and Expressionism, but he does not explore comics and advertising until the late 1950s. In 1961, he creates his first Pop Art paintings, developing a visual language of large dots and clear contours

Roy Lichtenstein designs the BMW 320 Art Car of the collection to depict motion | photo by Enes Kucevic

Andy Warhol, 1979

BMW Art Car 4 by Andy Warhol | photo by Jean-Marie Bottequin

Instead of using pop culture references, Andy Warhol paints the BMW M1 Art Car himself. He covers it in colors and textures with broad brushstrokes in 28 minutes. The artist’s design represents speed, with contours and colors intended to create the effect of motion. Hervé Poulain, founder of the BMW Art Car Collection, observes Warhol painting the car and compares it to a live dance performance.

Andy Warhol’s BMW Art Car in the collection races for the first and only time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1979. Numbered 76, the M1 is driven by Manfred Winkelhock from Germany and Hervé Poulain and Marcel Mignot from France. The car finishes sixth overall and second in its class. The celebrated artist is a key figure in modern art and a leading proponent of Pop Art.

Andy Warhol paints the car with broad brushstrokes in 28 minutes | photo by Stephan Bauer

Esther Mahlangu, 1991

BMW Art Car 12 by Esther Mahlangu

For her Art Car in the BMW collection, Esther Mahlangu applies traditional Ndebele painting to the BMW 525i. She brings tribal art to a modern vehicle. The artist’s geometric patterns and vivid colors, typically seen on house facades, cover the art car. To familiarize herself with the new medium, she first paints the door of another BMW before completing the Art Car in a week. She becomes the first woman and the first African artist to design an Art Car. Esther Mahlangu’s BMW Art Car in the collection is created for exhibition and has never been driven in a race.

Born in South Africa (1935), Esther Mahlangu learns traditional Ndebele painting techniques from her mother. Ndebele murals, known for their patterns, are traditionally created by women. The artist is recognized as a leading figure in this field, with exhibitions in institutions such as the British Museum in London and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. In 2024, the Iziko Museums of South Africa in Cape Town hosts a major retrospective of her work.

Check out designboom’s coverage on Esther Mahlangu’s BMW Art Car here.

Esther Mahlangu applies traditional Ndebele painting | photo by Clint Strydom

Jenny Holzer, 1999

BMW Art Car 15 by Jenny Holzer

American conceptual artist Jenny Holzer’s BMW Art Car in the collection features messages similar to those in her Truisms series. The car displays one of her most well-known ones, ‘PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT,’ on the bonnet. It critiques the endless desires of capitalism, placed on a 580-bhp, 340-km/h racing car. To make sure viewers see it during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Holzer uses reflective chrome letters and phosphorescent paint. The letters reflect the sky during the day and glow BMW blue at night, releasing the daylight they absorbed.

In May 1999, Jenny Holzer’s Art Car in the BMW collection participates in the qualifying round for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Although it does not make it into the race, another BMW V12 LMR competes and wins, driven by Joachim Winkelhock, Pierluigi Martini, and Yannick Dalmas. Born in Ohio in 1950, Jenny Holzer focuses on using text as an artistic medium, projecting her messages onto various surfaces such as posters, benches, photos, and LED displays. She begins her career in Ohio and moves to New York in 1977, where she creates her Truisms series.

the car displays the message PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT | photo by Siegfried Hofmann

Olafur Eliasson, 2007

BMW Art Car 16 by Olafur Eliasson | image courtesy of Studio Olafur Eliasson and BMW Group

For his Art Car in the BMW collection, Olafur Eliasson transforms a hydrogen-powered prototype, the H.R. He removes its body and then replaces it with a reflective wire mesh, covering the entire car. The artist also layers the mesh with ice, turning the car into an ice sculpture. The artwork weighs around two tons and is internally illuminated. The BMW H.R research vehicle is Olafur Eliasson’s BMW Art Car. It sets nine records for vehicles powered by hydrogen combustion engines. It has been tested on a high-speed track in Miramas, France.

Olafur Eliasson’s BMW Art Car in the collection is also intended solely as an exhibition piece. It has never been driven on the road or in a race. Born in Copenhagen in 1967 to Icelandic parents, he has created installations that explore natural phenomena like light, water, movement, and mist. He is best known for his large-scale works, such as The Weather Project (2003), exhibited at Tate Modern in London. The piece features an artificial sun made of monochromatic lights, mist, and mirrors, which made the vast Turbine Hall appear even larger.

Olafur Eliasson transforms a hydrogen-powered prototype into an ice sculpture

Jeff Koons, 2010

BMW Art Car 17 by Jeff Koons

Jeff Koons creates a design for the 17th BMW Art Car in the collection using the M3 GT2 as his base. He applies bright colors and streaks of light. The design includes clusters of lines suggesting speed and energy across the bodywork. There are graphic explosions at the rear, representing the power of the engine. Jeff Koons uses 20 Pantone colors reproduced with digital printing techniques. The challenge lies in finding the brightest possible white for the basecolor on the special vinyl wrap.

Jeff Koons’s BMW Art Car in the collection makes its world premiere on June 2nd, 2010 at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The car competes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 12 June 2010. It comes with a number 79 to pay homage to Andy Warhol’s 1979 Art Car. Andy Priaulx (UK), Dirk Müller (DE), and Dirk Werner (DE) drive the BMW Art Car. It becomes a fan favorite but faces technical issues and withdraws after five hours of racing.

Check out designboom’s coverage on Jeff Koons’ BMW Art Car here.

Jeff Koons’ design includes clusters of lines suggesting speed across the bodywork | photo by Enes Kucevic

Julie Mehretu, 2024

BMW Art Car 20 by Julie Mehretu | photo by Tereza Mundilová

For her Art Car in the BMW collection, American artist Julie Mehretu works with various media on large canvases. These include photos, social media posts, musical motifs, and literary quotations. She distorts, pixelates, and paints over them, adding her visual gestures. While working on a painting called Everywhen, the model of a BMW M Hybrid V8 arrives at her studio. She considers the possibility of the car racing through the painting. Her outcome merges the worlds of art and motorsport, creating a kind of performative artwork.

The BMW Art Car in the collection has its world premiere on May 21st, 2024, at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. The car competes in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15 June 2024. The team includes Robin Frijns, Sheldon van der Linde, and René Rast. After five hours, the car drops out due to a driver error. The car makes a lap of honor 24 hours later. In 2024, the prototype BMW M Hybrid V8 covers 82,400 km in tests and races.

Check out designboom’s coverage on Julie Mehretu’s BMW Art Car here.

there are graphic explosions at the rear, representing the power of the engine | photo by André Josselin

project info:

name: 50 years of BMW Art Car Collection

car manufacturer: BMW | @bmw, @bmwgroupculture

art car artists: Alexander Calder (1975), Frank Stella (1976), Roy Lichtenstein (1977), Andy Warhol (1979), Ernst Fuchs (1982), Robert Rauschenberg (1986), Michael Jagamara Nelson (1989), Ken Done (1989), Matazo Kayama (1990), César Manrique (1990

), A.R. Penck (1991), Esther Mahlangu (1991), Sandro Chia (1992), David Hockney (1995), Jenny Holzer (1999), Ólafur Elíasson (2007), Jeff Koons (2010), Cao Fei (2017), John Baldessari (2016), Julie Mehretu (2024)

The post 50 years of BMW art cars: look back at iconic models by andy warhol, jeff koons and more appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

herzog & de meuron-designed calder gardens announces september 2025 opening

myrto katsikopoulou I designboom — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 10:50:53 +0000

Calder Gardens to open in September 2025

Calder Gardens, the new cultural destination designed by Herzog and de Meuron and Dutch landscape designer Piet Oudolf (see designboom’s previous coverage here), has announced its opening date in September 2025. Located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in downtown Philadelphia, the gallery space is set to showcase the art and ideas of Alexander Calder, one of the 20th century’s most influential artists and a Philadelphia native. The institute has also appointed Juana Berrío as the Marsha Perelman Senior Director of Programs. A seasoned curator, educator, and arts programmer, Berrío will lead public programming that connects audiences to Calder’s work through performances, events, and wellness activities, fostering engagement and community in this innovative blend of art, nature, and architecture.

all images courtesy of Calder Gardens

Juana Berrío Curates Inclusive Programming at Calder Gardens

Beginning her role on January 21st, 2025, Juana Berrío will draw on her extensive background in curatorial practice and arts programming to shape new public engagement initiatives for this new Philadelphia-based institution. With experience at leading institutions such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, SFMOMA, and the Walker Art Center, as well as her work as cofounder of San Francisco’s Kiria Koula, Berrío has developed a reputation for creating dynamic, community-focused cultural experiences. Her diverse expertise, spanning education, research, and sustainability, positions her to craft programs that reflect the spirit of Calder’s art while fostering inclusivity and connection.

‘Calder Gardens is an entirely new type of cultural institution focused on nurturing introspection and personal growth through the art and ideas of my grandfather—one of the most influential artists of the modern era. Juana Berrío’s expertise and wide-ranging interdisciplinary experience—shaped by openness, compassion, and curiosity—
make her ideal for this essential role at Calder Gardens. We look forward to being inspired by her dynamic, unexpected programming,’ says Alexander S. C. Rower, President of the Calder Foundation, Chair of the Calder Gardens Curatorial Committee, and Calder’s grandson.

‘I am thrilled to join Calder Gardens, a unique space that integrates art, architecture, and nature to invite self-reflection,’ shares Juana Berrío. ‘I look forward to working with the team to design rich cross-pollinations between artistic and nonartistic practices, with diverse communities, and between humans, flora, and fauna. Calder’s own passion for interdisciplinary collaborations and experimentation at large provides a perfect context for Calder Gardens to become one of the most innovative and forward-thinking spaces for art and culture today.’

project info:

name: Calder Gardens

architect: Herzog & de Meuron | @herzogdemeuron

landscape designer: Piet Oudolf | @pietoudolf

location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

client: Calder Foundation| @calderfoundation
opening: September 2025

The post herzog & de meuron-designed calder gardens announces september 2025 opening appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

the latest BMW art car is alexander calder’s unbuilt artist’s proof

juliana neira I designboom — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 21:01:09 +0000

back in 1975, french racing driver hervé poulain came up with the idea of getting a race car designed by an artist. he commissioned american artist alexander calder to imprint his signature style into a BMW 3.0 CSL which he would race in the 1975 24-hours le mans endurance race. this initiated the BMW art cars program, which has seen artists like david hockney, jenny holzer, olafur eliasson and andy warhol transform both racing and production vehicles.

for the opening of ‘alexander calder: minimal / maximal’ exhibition at the neue nationalgalerie in berlin, BMW is presenting the calder BMW art car (artist’s proof), which realizes calder’s dream of creating his own example of the first BMW art car, operating as the kinetic work of art that he intended.

images by BMW

‘it was a thrilling moment as a young driver to meet the great american artist alexander calder at his home in saché,’ hervé poulain recalls. ‘racing what became the first in a storied tradition of prestigious art cars is a memory I will never forget. I am delighted that more people will now get to experience calder’s vision, thanks to this new artist’s proof.’

the artist’s proof is not a replica, clone, copy, reproduction, facsimile, or 1:1 of the 1975 calder BMW art car

it is important to note that the artist’s proof is not a replica, clone, copy, reproduction, facsimile, or 1:1 of the 1975 calder BMW art car. instead, it is the identical artist’s proof that calder was entitled to but was never realized until now. meticulously built from an original BMW 3.0 CSL, the artist’s proof will carry the same vehicle identification number, with the suffix AP.

the artist’s proof is built from an original BMW 3.0 CSL

alexander S. C. rower, grandson of the artist and president of the calder foundation, recalls, ‘I first encountered the BMW art car as a kid at the opening of my grandfather’s far-ranging retrospective at the whitney museum in 1976. I asked him about the roar of its m49 engine, and he smiled and told me he wanted to make one for himself. he died just a few weeks later. ever since, I have dreamed of realizing his wish to bring the car to life to experience its full glory in motion. I am thrilled that that day has finally come, and that the car will be activated for the opening of the neue nationalgalerie’s ‘minimal / maximal’ exhibition, which highlights the key element of social activation so fundamental to calder’s work.’

it will carry the same vehicle identification number, with the suffix AP

after its debut in berlin, the calder BMW art car (artist’s proof) will be presented at the bridge in bridgehampton, new york, on september 18, 2021. the calder foundation will subsequently lend calder’s artist’s proof to exhibitions worldwide.

the BMW art car calder ‘artist’s proof’ will be presented in berlin

and then it will travel to the bridge in bridgehampton, new york, on september 18, 2021

the realizes calder’s dream of creating his own example of the first BMW art car

this model operates as the kinetic work of art that he intended

calder’s BMW art car originated in the aeronautical sphere

the calder foundation and BMW group classic consulted with key members of the original team to realize this project

BMW group cultural engagement and the BMW 3.0 CSL celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2021

the BMW 3.0 CSL is still one of the most iconic cars in the BMW automobile history

project info:

name: calder BMW art car (artist’s proof)

created by: BMW art car

exhibition info:

alexander calder: minimal / maximal
neue nationalgalerie
potsdamer Straße 50, 10785
berlin
august 22, 2021, from 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

the bridge
1180 millstone rd, bridgehampton, NY 11932
september 18 — september 19, 2021

The post the latest BMW art car is alexander calder’s unbuilt artist’s proof appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.

alexander calder: the paris years, exhibition at the whitney museum

ridhika naidoo I designboom — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:00:00 +0000

‘cowboy’, ‘cowgirl’, and ‘horse’ from ‘calder’s circus’, 1926-31
all images © whitney museum of american art

alexander calder: the paris years 1926 -1933
at: whitney museum of art, new york, USA
from: october 16, 2008 to february 15, 2009

american artist alexander calder is most famous for creating mobile sculptures. in 1926 he moved to paris
to further develop his career. during this period he created ‘circus’ a series of figurative, moveable sculptures
made from wire, wood, cork, leather and hand sewn fabric. the whitney museum has recently opened

an exhibition dedicated to his work in the paris years. over 265 objects are on display including illustrations,

wire sculptures and toys.

‘little clown’, the ‘trumpeteer’, and ‘bearded lady’ from ‘calder’s circus’, 1926-31

‘dog’, 1926-31

‘the hostess’, 1928

more:

http://www.whitney.org

The post alexander calder: the paris years, exhibition at the whitney museum appeared first on designboom | architecture & design magazine.