The BMW Group has announced a new long-term partnership with the Städel Museum, one of Germany’s oldest and most renowned museum foundations. To kick off the collaboration, artist Marc Brandenburg has designed an exclusive BMW iX1. Together, BMW and the Städel Museum invite visitors to experience contemporary art in a unique way through the STÄDEL INVITES event series.
In the past year, BMW and the Städel Museum Frankfurt launched the STÄDEL INVITES format. These events, held in conjunction with exhibitions by selected contemporary artists, aim to make contemporary art more accessible to a wide audience in a relaxed atmosphere. The events include live artist discussions, talks, short tours, and music.
As a highlight of the new partnership, Marc Brandenburg, the museum’s collection artist, has designed a BMW iX1. The vehicle will be unveiled on July 11th in the Städel Garden. Brandenburg will explain how he incorporated the elements of time, space, and speed from his artwork into the car design. The Städel Museum will also exhibit Brandenburg’s drawings and video work from October 28, 2021, to January 30, 2022, in the exhibition “Hirnsturm II.”
“We are excited to expand our cultural engagement through a new partnership with the Städel Museum,” said Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG. The design of the BMW iX1 by Marc Brandenburg signifies the beginning of a long-term collaboration that will offer many inspiring encounters with artists through the STÄDEL INVITES format.
Philipp Demandt, director of the Städel Museum, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership and the BMW iX1 designed by Marc Brandenburg. He highlighted the shared aspiration of the Städel Museum and BMW to inspire quality and people. Together, they aim to venture off the beaten path and explore new possibilities, including joint event series and a film series featuring contemporary artists presenting their works in relation to the Städel collection.
The STÄDEL INVITES series started in October 2022 with artist Michael Müller and will continue with exhibits by Philipp Fürhofer and Miron Schmückle. The series offers an opportunity for visitors to gain insights into the artists’ works and practices, as well as their connections to the Städel collection. The respective artists will also share their ideas and creative processes in the video series “Was bewegt (…)?”
About Marc Brandenburg:
Marc Brandenburg, born in Berlin in 1965, is an artist who primarily focuses on drawing. He spent his childhood in the USA and returned to West Berlin in 1977. Brandenburg has been part of the Berlin club scene, worked in fashion design, and eventually dedicated himself to fine art in the late 1990s.
BMW Group has a strong presence in the fine art arena. The company supports leading museums, art fairs, and platforms worldwide, including Art Basel, Frieze art fair, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, and Gallery Weekend Berlin. In Germany, BMW has a long-standing partnership with the Museum der bildenden Künste Leipzig (MdbK), and also supports the Premio BMW de Pintura in Spain, the Berlin National Gallery prize, and the Academy of Fine Arts Munich.
