Louis Vuitton inaugurated the Artycapucines collection in June 2019, inviting six contemporary artists – Sam Falls, Urs Fischer, Nicholas Hlobo, Alex Israel, Tschabalala Self and Jonas Wood – to revisit its iconic Capucines bag. Six new artists continue the creative journey this year, redesigning the iconic accessory with their own singular aesthetic vision.
The Louis Vuitton Artycapucines collection is a unique meeting of contemporary art, fashion and striking artisanal craftsmanship. Seven years after the launch of its iconic Capucines bag – named after rue des Capucines in Paris, where Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854 – the Maison invited six renowned contemporary artists to once again revisit this classic. For this second wave, Beatriz Milhhazes, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Josh Smith, Henry Taylor, Liu Wei and Zhao Zhao follow Sam Falls, Urs Fischer, Nicholas Hlobo, Alex Israel, Tschabalala Self and Jonas Wood, who presented their original takes on the Capucines bag in 2019.
Each of the artists in this second wave appropriated the trapezoid shaped bag, rethinking the design with their personal style to create one-of-a-kind models. Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhares superposed a kaleidoscope of textures and colours in lambskin onto the bag’s sleek form.
The creation by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel – known for his Kiosque des Noctambules at the entrance to the Palais Royal metro station in Paris – completely reworked bag in a raffia weave topped with a boa like silk trim, completed by a twisted handle adorned with black pearls.
Josh Smith proposes an equally personal version. The New York artist drew inspiration from a his original series of paintings titled Name, faithfully reproducing canvases spelling out his name in bright colours.
American Henry Taylor also transposed an original painting using cutting-edge laser printing and traditional marquetry techniques. Taylor reproduced the expressive face of the founder of the Underground Museum in Los Angeles from his 2017 portrait, creating a remarkable sculptural bas-relief on the Capucines bag canvas.
The Louis Vuitton Capucines by Beijing-based Liu Wei is futuristic and sculptural, with aluminium plates and rings covered in metal spheres to hold the handle in place.
Lastly, Zhao Zhao created a graphic pattern that covers the entire surface of the bag like a sophisticated puzzle.
The six new creations in the Artycapucines collection are available in a limited edition of 200 pieces for each bag at select Louis Vuitton stores worldwide.
