The Artycapucines collection by Louis Vuitton blurs the lines between fashion and art, and it comes with price tags that reflect its unique blend of luxury and artistic creativity. Launched in 2019, this initiative reimagines the iconic Louis Vuitton Capucines bag, celebrating its timeless appeal. The Capucines bag, introduced in 2013, is known for its classic, essential design, featuring a trapezoidal base, a convenient top handle, and an optional shoulder strap. The name "Capucines" pays homage to the location of Louis Vuitton's first Parisian store on Rue Neuves des Capucines in the 19th century.
Since 2019, Louis Vuitton has released special editions of the Louis Vuitton Capucines bag called Artycapucines. Renowned artists, including Daniel Buren, Peter Marino, Paola Pivi, and Ugo Rondinone, have contributed to these limited-edition creations. The 2023 collection features artists Billie Zangewa, Ewa Juszkiewicz, Liza Lou, Ziping Wang, and the duo Tursic & Mille. Their diverse artistic backgrounds bring a range of styles and techniques to the collection. The bags in this collection are not just accessories; they are exquisite, one-of-a-kind artworks. They range from bags transformed into canvases for art to bags with structural and material innovations. Each bag in the Artycapucines collection comes with a price tag that reflects its status as both a work of art and a luxury fashion item. Prices for these exclusive bags can range from $8,000 to $12,000 and beyond, making them investments for those who value the intersection of high fashion and artistic expression.
Each artist's approach is distinct. Billie Zangewa, known for her silk fabric collages, portrays themes of identity and motherhood. Liza Lou, a sculptor, uses fine beaded textures. Ewa Juskiewicz, a painter, incorporates surreal elements into her oil portraits. Ziping Wang creates graphic, vibrant visuals. The duo Tursic & Mille, both painters, are fascinated by visual overload and recontextualize images. The Artycapucines collection is a testament to Louis Vuitton's commitment to supporting artistic talents. It showcases the brand's long-standing relationship with contemporary art, including collaborations with iconic artists like Yayoi Kusama, Sol LeWitt, Takashi Murakami, and Richard Prince. The Louis Vuitton Foundation, inaugurated in 2014, and the Espace Louis Vuitton in Venice, where art installations are displayed, are additional manifestations of the brand's support for the arts.
