BMW Art Automobile THE 8 X JEFF KOONS Retails for USD 475,000 at Christie's Auction House

THE 8 X JEFF KOONS BMW Art Work is a super hit.

On April 4, 2022 Christie's auction house sold the only BMW M850i xDrive Gran Coupé autographed by the artist for 475,000 USD. Tash Perrin's hammer finally dropped to the delight of visitors invited to a celebration lunch in Christie's main auction room after intense global bidding both online and on-site.

Among the guests were the artist, Alexander S. C. Rower, president of the Calder Foundation, Larry Warsh, a collector, and the artist FUTURA 2000. This M850i xDrive Gran Coupé was the last of the 99-piece limited edition that sold out three weeks after its global debut in mid-February. The auction's earnings will benefit the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), an organisation with which Jeff Koons has been actively associated for over two decades.

"BMW is honoured to help the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children via our cooperation with Jeff Koons and the auction of THE 8 X JEFF KOONS."

Sebastian Mackensen, BMW of North America's president and CEO

"From the colour scheme to the overall design and material selection, my automobile has a superhero vibe. Contributing to ICMEC and actually saving children's lives is a heroic task today more than ever. I'm delighted that the automobile auction was such a success!"

Jeff Koons, sculptor

SIGNATURE ON THE B-PILLAR IS UNIQUE

Christie's live charity auction in Rockefeller Plaza, where the automobile was on display from April 1-4, featured THE 8 X JEFF KOONS's last production run. This vehicle has the artist's signature on the B-Pillar, making it the most rare variant available from the original set of 99 pieces. Not only will the winning bidder get an autographed automobile from Jeff Koons, but he or she will also be invited to a personal tour of the artist's Manhattan studio by the artist.

THE 8 X JEFF KOONS is BMW's most complex bespoke factory manufacturing procedure to date. The artist's distinctive exterior and interior liveries are genuine creative works. The outside of the car includes an expressive and distinctive visual design that incorporates 11 distinct external colours.

Following the New York charity auction, THE 8 X JEFF KOONS will be shown in a number of art fairs and events around Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, including the 17th Istanbul Contemporary, Paris Photo, the Goodwood Festival of Speed, and Shanghai's West Bund Art & Design Fair.