“I think mobile museums are great. For me, this car is a dream come true.”
ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG
Robert Rauschenberg
Born in 1925 in Port Arthur, Texas, Robert Rauschenberg is regarded as one of the pioneers of American pop art. After studying art in the United States and Europe, he began designing sets and costumes for theaters around the world. He later experimented with photographic compositions and painted in the style of abstract expressionism, before arriving at his own, distinctive mode of expression. His Combine Painting was a collage technique that integrated real-life objects and newspaper photographs into abstract painted panels. His radical visual language continues to inspire countless artists to this day. He passed away on May 12, 2008, at his home in Florida.
Collage as an art form
Robert Rauschenberg’s BMW 635CSi was the sixth Art Car in the series, but the first to be adorned with photographic material. On the right side appears an odalisque by Ingres; on the left, a painting by Bronzino, framed by Rauschenberg’s own photographs of swamp grass from the Everglades. The hubcaps are decorated with images of antique decorative plates. By blending classical art, natural imagery, and technical innovation, Rauschenberg created a moving collage — a striking example of collage as an independent art form. At the same time, the car serves as a subtle social commentary on the relationship between humans, mobility, and the environment.
Specifications Robert Rauschenberg BMW 635 CSi
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Straight-six engine
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Overhead camshaft
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Displacement: 3430 cm3
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Power: 211 hp
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Top speed: 220 km/h
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