October 15, 2020: Launching the second edition of its Artycapucines collection, Louis Vuitton invited artists Beatriz Milhhazes, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Josh Smith, Henry Taylor, Liu Wei and Zhao Zhao to create handbags that are at once vibrant and whimsical.
The Louis Vuitton Artycapucines collection is a unique meeting of contemporary art, fashion and striking artisanal craftsmanship. The brand’s iconic Capucines bag – named after rue des Capucines in Paris, where Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854 – the artists give a new face to this stylish handbag.
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 colors in lambskin onto the bag’s sleek form.
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.
New York artists Josh Smith drew inspiration from his original series of paintings titled Name, faithfully reproducing canvases spelling out his name in bright colors.
American Henry Taylor transposed an original painting using cutting-edge laser printing and traditional marquetry techniques. He 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 aluminum plates and rings covered in metal spheres to hold the handle in place.
Giving us a sophisticated, universal piece, Zhao Zhao created a graphic pattern that covers the entire surface of the bag like a puzzle.
The six new creations in the Artycapucines collection will be available in a limited edition of 200 pieces for each bag at select Louis Vuitton stores worldwide beginning October 30.
