BMW has had an historical affinity for art, inviting artists since 1975 to treat their luxury cars like a canvas. Recently, BMW commissioned 81-year-old artist Esther Mahlangu from South Africa. This isn’t her first time creating art for BMW — 25 years ago, she was the first woman to decorate a BMW 521 sedan. Mahlangu comes from the Ndebele tribe in the North-Eastern province of Mpumalanga and her artwork reflects the traditional motifs, patterns, and colors characteristic of Ndebele tribe.

Trim specialists from BMW’s Individual Manufaktur created a special bleached wood trim and sent them to Mahlangu to paint. Then they were sent back to Munich to be sealed and installed.

Mahlangu expressed her excitement in a statement: “To paint is in my heart and it’s in my blood. The way I paint was taught to me by my mother and my grandmother. The images and colours have changed and I have painted on many different surfaces and objects but I still love to paint. The patterns I have used on the BMW parts marry tradition to the essence of BMW. When BMW sent me the panels to paint, I could see the design in my head and I just wanted to get started! I start by painting the small ones first to get the feel of the surface and then it was easy as the design follows the lines of the panels.”

Furthermore she says, “My art has taken me all over the world and I have seen many places, I have painted many walls and objects and my work is in many museums but I am still Esther Mahlangu from Mpumalanga in South Africa. My heart was full of joy when BMW asked me again to paint for them.”

The car will be shown in public for the first time at the Frieze Art Fair from October 5th to the 9th in London, where there will be a silent auction. Proceeds will go to the Art Room project, which offers art as therapy to children in the UK aged 5 to 16 years old. Mahlangu will also speak at the event about South African art with Christopher Spring, curator of contemporary Eastern and Southern Africa at the British Museum.