These Amazing Vehicles Painted by Keith Haring

When he wasn’t making erotic graffiti or iconic T-shirt designs, Keith Haring also applied his unforgettable style to cars. Haring had a deep fascination with cars, seeing them as dynamic, moving canvases that could bring art into everyday life. His love for street culture and art accessibility drove him to paint on unconventional surfaces to mend the gap between fine art and pop culture.

One of Haring’s most famous painted vehicles is the BMW Z1, which he decorated in his signature graffiti style. Unlike other BMW Art Car collaborators (like Andy Warhol or Roy Lichtenstein), Haring’s version wasn’t part of the official BMW Art Car program—it was more of a personal project, done with enthusiasm for transforming a car into a moving sculpture.

Haring painted several vehicles throughout his career, including a Land Rover, a Buick, and even a Volkswagen Beetle, usually for art events, friends, or charitable causes. In many cases, the cars were painted live at public events, emphasizing Haring’s philosophy of art for all and art in motion.

Haring saw cars as democratic art surfaces, aligning with his goal to make art accessible beyond gallery walls. He believed art should live in the streets and in everyday life—hence, painting cars allowed his work to “travel.”

His car canvases are adorned with dancing figures, barking dogs, radiant babies, and interlocking shapes—visual motifs that carry through much of his work. The designs were often painted directly onto the surface of the car with bold black lines and vivid color blocks.