Louis Vuitton Reimagines the Capucines with Takashi Murakami

Louis Vuitton transforms the Grand Palais into a surreal, tentacled dreamscape, unveiling its latest Artycapucines collection featuring eleven new bag designs by Takashi Murakami.

Louis Vuitton returns to Art Basel Paris with a new chapter of its Artycapucines series in collaboration with contemporary art juggernaut Takashi Murakami. Set to take over the Balcon d’Honneur of the Grand Palais, the presentation will unite Murakami’s signature psychedelic identity and the Maison’s signature craftsmanship in an immersive installation that will appeal to all generations and audiences.

Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

At the centre of this environment rises an eight-metre-high octopus sculpture inspired by Chinese lanterns, its glowing head covered in Murakami’s Jellyfish Eyes motif. Visitors will enter through its sweeping cartoon tentacles, surrounded by sketches and scenography created by the artist. The structure immerses guests in Murakami’s kaleidoscopic world, where childlike fear and playfulness coexist in equal measure.

Inside this space, eleven new interpretations of Louis Vuitton’s Capucines bag will be displayed alongside some of Murakami’s most recognisable characters, including Mr. DOB, the Superflat Panda, and the Smiling Flowers. Named after Rue des Capucines in Paris, where Louis Vuitton opened its first store in 1854, the Capucines has become a default design for the House. Known for its ladylike top-handle and ergonomic silhouetteSilhouetteThe overall outline or shape of a garment or look, such as A-line, column, or hourglass. Silhouette defines the first visual impression of an outfit and is often the mostGo to Silhouette Glossary, it has served as a wearable canvas for artists since the launch of the Artycapucines initiative in 2019.

Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Murakami’s designs are presented among a series of spherical Plush Balls covered in repeating floral and cartoon motifs, a format he has explored since the 1990s. Standout pieces include the Cherry Blossom Plush Ball created for this year’s fair, the Capucines Mini Mushroom adorned with 3D-printed and hand-embroidered mushrooms, and the Capucines East West Dragon, which references the painting Dragon in Clouds Indigo Blue. Each work merges Murakami’s playful visual language with Louis Vuitton’s technical mastery in leatherwork and creativity.

Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Photo: Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

This latest chapter breathes new life into a creative partnership that began in 2003, when Murakami’s bold reinterpretation of the Monogram canvas in 33 colors became a cultural touchstone embraced by athletes, rappers, and socialites alike. Over twenty years on, his pop-infused, anime-inspired vision continues to dissolve the lines between art and luxury, reaffirming the enduring power of collaboration.

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