LV x Murakami
A 20-Year Legacy: Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami Unveil Artycapucines Collection at Art Basel Paris
Louis Vuitton and Japanese artist Takashi Murakami have reunited to celebrate a two-decade-long creative alliance. The duo premiered their newest Artycapucines collection in spectacular fashion at Art Basel Paris, transforming the Grand Palais into a kaleidoscopic, "Superflat" garden of artistic delights.
This new Artycapucines collection pays tribute to the historic collaboration that began in 2003, when then-creative director Marc Jacobs first tapped Murakami to infuse the storied luxury brand with his distinct pop-art sensibility.
The Collection and Immersive Installation
The collection itself reimagines eleven of the classic Capucines handbags with Murakami's whimsical and visionary twist, featuring some of his most beloved characters and motifs:
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Key Designs: Standouts include the Capucines BB Golden Garden bag, which draws inspiration from his Ogata Kōrin-inspired Chrysanthemum works, and the Panda Clutch, a sparkling masterpiece adorned with a staggering 6,250 rhinestones. Other bags showcase trippy forest scenes (Capucines Mini Mushroom) and references to his "Jellyfish Eyes" motif (Capucines MM Eye).
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Sculptural Display: To set the stage for the collection, Murakami conceived an immersive installation at the Grand Palais, suspended high above fairgoers. The centerpiece is a 24-foot-tall octopus sculpture, inspired by Chinese lanterns, with luminous tentacles spilling onto the installation floor. The display also features three spherical "Plush Balls" sculptures, referencing M.C. Escher's trompe-l'œil.
The Artycapucines VII – Louis Vuitton x Takashi Murakami showcase is currently running at the Grand Palais as part of Art Basel Paris until October 26, marking a significant new chapter in the ongoing dialogue between high fashion, contemporary art, and commercial culture.
