Olafur Eliasson - BMW H2R Project anchors BMW Art Cars show in Munich
Published on 08/29/2026 at 17:23 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Olafur Eliasson places his BMW H2R Project at the heart of a rare gathering of BMW Art Cars in Munich. As the BMW Group press release dated July 31, 2026 confirms, BMW ART CARS – 20 ARTISTS, 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION. REUNITED AT BMW WELT runs at BMW Welt from July 29 to August 31, 2026. BMW Group exhibition announcement
The BMW H2R Project in Munich
The BMW exhibition in Munich unites all 20 BMW Art Cars for the first time, with Eliasson's BMW H2R Project (Art Car #16) singled out as a particular highlight on the east forecourt of BMW Welt.
Based on a hydrogen-powered prototype, the work appears as a 'frozen' installation, a configuration that has only been publicly presented three times globally since its world premiere in 2007, making BMW Welt the fourth location to host it.
A work series with a rare public profile
The BMW H2R Project translates Eliasson's longstanding interest in light, movement and perception into automotive form, adding a technological dimension to his broader practice of immersive installations and environmental works.
Alongside the Munich presentation, Studio Olafur Eliasson's exhibition listings show ongoing institutional projects in Hamamatsu and Shanghai through August 30 and August 31, 2026, underscoring the artist's sustained global presence. Studio Olafur Eliasson exhibitions overview
All news and background on Olafur Eliasson
Further reports on Olafur Eliasson's exhibitions, commissions and major installations can be found in the AD HOC NEWS archive.
The broader practice and work core
Olafur Eliasson works across installation, sculpture, painting, architecture and design, often integrating light, water, fog or reflective surfaces to heighten visitors' awareness of perception and environmental conditions.
Major work groups such as The weather project, Your spiral view,
Where the artist stands now
Olafur Eliasson's BMW H2R Project remains on view at BMW Welt in Munich as part of BMW ART CARS – 20 ARTISTS, 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION. REUNITED AT BMW WELT until August 31, 2026.
Key facts on Olafur Eliasson
- Artist: Olafur Eliasson
- Medium / Genre: Installation, sculpture, light-based and environmental art
- Born: 1967, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Place(s) of practice: Studio Olafur Eliasson in Berlin; projects worldwide
- Active since: Early 1990s, with international recognition from late 1990s
- Key work groups: The weather project,
, - Current/last exhibition: BMW ART CARS – 20 ARTISTS, 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION. REUNITED AT BMW WELT, BMW Welt, Munich, July 29 – August 31, 2026
- Major collections: Tate (London), MoMA (New York), Guggenheim (New York), Nationalgalerie (Berlin)
- Awards: Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie Carl-Nielsens Legat Award 2026; other international honors over the past two decades
- Next date: August 31, 2026, closing day of the BMW Art Cars exhibition at BMW Welt in Munich
Frequently asked questions about Olafur Eliasson
Where can Olafur Eliasson's BMW H2R Project currently be seen?
The BMW H2R Project is installed on the east forecourt of BMW Welt in Munich as part of BMW ART CARS – 20 ARTISTS, 50 YEARS OF INNOVATION. REUNITED AT BMW WELT, running from July 29 to August 31, 2026.
How rare is the public presentation of the BMW H2R Project?
According to the BMW Group, the hydrogen-based BMW H2R Project has only been shown as a complete 'frozen' installation three times worldwide since its 2007 premiere, with BMW Welt now the fourth location.
In which other exhibitions is Olafur Eliasson involved around August 2026?
Studio Olafur Eliasson's exhibition overview lists projects in Hamamatsu Museum of Art in Shizuoka and Shanghai Natural History Museum, with runs extending through August 30 and August 31, 2026 respectively, reflecting a concurrent institutional presence.
This article was produced with a.i. support and editorially reviewed. All statements without guarantee; auction results, exhibition dates and awards may change at short notice.
