Louis Vuitton Presents New Artycapucines Collection Designed by Takashi Murakami at Art Basel Paris

Director and Founder, RGNN.org.

Welcome to The Director’s Cut, an interactive column featuring fashion, beauty and career advice from RGNN Director and Founder, @isabelevabohrer.

Enter the Grand Palais, the stunning home again of Art Basel Paris, and you can see it right away. A larger-than-life octopus spanning the majestic Balcon d’Honneur, lighting up Palais’ centerpiece with crimson and magenta tentacles. Did we all flock towards it right away? Yes.

The Capucines Mini Tentacle is adorned with a miniature version of the central octopus’s features, from the tentacles to the Jellyfish Eyes | Photo credit: RGNN

At the Louis Vuitton presentation at Art Basel Paris | Photo credit: RGNN

The occasion? Louis Vuitton, presenting its new Artycapucines collection, designed by none other than Takashi Murakami. It’s a repeat affirmation of the House’s dedication to contemporary creation, a legacy that dates back to almost a century ago. Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the founder’s grandson pursued artists to create window displays, advertisements and other objects for the brand, a tradition that the House has been committing to since 1988.

The Capucines BB Golden Garden exudes grace, sophistication and the House’s longstanding commitment to unparalleled savoir-faire with leather marquetry and radiant gold-leaf-covered leather body | Photo credit: RGNN

Murakami is, of course, not a new name here, as are Sol LeWitt, James Rosenquist, Richard Prince, César and Yayoi Kusama, who also form part of the House’s high-profile collaborations. In 2003, Murakami was the first artist to be invited to reexplore the iconic Monogram canvas. The result? A Monogram with 33 colours and versions overlaying his signature motifs, from the panda to the sakura cherry blossom, forever a homage to his home country, Japan.

Taking photos of the Capucines EW Rainbow | Photo credit: RGNN

The Capucines EW Rainbow reworks the construction and dimensions of the classic Capucines bag to take the form of Murakami’s iconic Rainbow Flower motif | Photo credit: RGNN

The Artycapucines collection presented at Art Basel Paris 2025 includes 11 interpretations of Louis Vuitton’s iconic Capucines bags and collector pieces. My personal favorite? The marvelous Panda Clutch, or minaudière, as the French here in Paris would call it. It’s a sculptural masterpiece, meticulously adorned with 6,300 hand-set strass, while crafted from lustrous silver-tone brass.

The Panda Clutch, my favorite from the Artycapucines VII – Louis Vuitton × Takashi Murakami collection | Photo credit: RGNN

Admiring the Panda Clutch because it really is my favorite | Photo credit: RGNN

To this day, the Artycapucines Collection encompasses more than 30 distinctive designs by celebrated artists from across the world including Beatriz Milhazes, Ugo Rondinone, Zhao Zhao, Daniel Buren, Vik Muniz, Henry Taylor, Paola Pivi, Urs Fischer, Alex Israel, Park Se-Beo, and Tschabalala Self.

The Capucines Mini Mushroom translates the vision of a psychedelic forest into a leather goods masterpiece by using around 100 mushroom characters, created through 3D printing and meticulously hand-embroidered | Photo credit: RGNN

Want to continue your Louis Vuitton journey? Be sure to stop by the Fondation Louis Vuitton inside the Bois de Bologne; the Frank Gehry building is remarkable, with views of the Eiffel Tower, and the exhibitions have included blockbuster shows such as the Mark Rothko retrospective and the Basquiat x Warhol exhibitions that are hard to trump.

The Capucines BB split | Photo credit: RGNN

I really did not want to leave the Balcon d’Honneur, let the photos speak for themselves. If you’re in Paris, be sure to stop by, you won’t be disappointed.