Marking seven years of its Artycapucines project, Louis Vuitton presents a retrospective at Art Basel Paris 2026, bringing together 14 contemporary artists whose individual visions have transformed the House’s signature Capucines bag into a canvas for artistic expression. Hosted on the Balcon d’Honneur of the Grand Palais from 23 to 25 October, the exhibition explores the intersection of contemporary art and Louis Vuitton’s leather craftsmanship.
As Associate Partner of Art Basel Paris, the House traces the evolution of Artycapucines since its inception in 2019, presenting the collectible designs alongside works by the artists who conceived them. The exhibition also unveils a new series inspired by American artist Keith Haring, whose instantly recognisable visual language informs a collection of distinctive creations.
The scenography draws on the world of archival preservation and fine-art transportation, bringing together open crates, plinths and trunk-like structures made from brushed aluminium and cotton canvas. Evoking Louis Vuitton’s origins as a trunk-maker, the installation creates a dialogue between the House’s heritage of protecting and transporting precious objects and its contemporary artistic collaborations.
Throughout the exhibition, each pairing reveals a different interpretation of the Capucines. Alex Israel’s vibrant Cut-Out-Fin (Golden Hour) is displayed alongside his fin-inspired bag, while Urs Fischer’s Fruits finds a witty echo in a design featuring a suspended banana. Sam Falls translates his botanical compositions into leather, while Tschabalala Self’s layered interplay of painting and textiles informs her own distinctive interpretation.
Materiality and texture take centre stage in other works. Kennedy Yanko’s sculptural practice, explored through metal and paint skin in Because of its blues, resonates with the expressive form of her Artycapucines creation. Liza Lou’s meticulous use of painted glass beads finds a counterpart in the intricate craftsmanship of her 2023 design, while Billie Zangewa’s embroidered-silk work Soldier of Love underscores the creative affinities between textile art and leather craftsmanship.
Together, the works reveal Artycapucines as an evolving conversation between artistic experimentation and artisanal savoir-faire, in which a signature accessory becomes a space for creative exchange.
The retrospective also honours Louis Vuitton’s enduring creative partnerships with Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama and Frank Gehry. Murakami’s Monogramouflage Skull (Black) is presented alongside his camouflage-inspired bag, while works by Kusama and Gehry reflect the diversity and scope of their collaborations with the House.
The new Keith Haring collection appears alongside a Louis Vuitton suitcase dating from the 1930s, which the artist signed in the 1980s. His distinctive visual vocabulary of animated figures, dancing silhouettes, hearts and graphic symbols is reinterpreted across the designs.
Louis Vuitton’s dialogue with the art world dates back to 1920, when the House collaborated with Pierre Legrain. Artycapucines carries this legacy forward, bringing together singular artistic perspectives and the precision of traditional craftsmanship. For the first time, a curated selection of titles from Louis Vuitton Editions will also be available at the Art Basel Store, extending the House’s cultural presence beyond fashion and accessories.
