Louis Vuitton is celebrating seven years of its Artycapucines project with a retrospective at Art Basel Paris 2026, bringing together 14 artists and their interpretations of the House’s signature Capucines bag.
Presented on the Balcon d’Honneur of the Grand Palais, the exhibition will run from 23 to 25 October, offering visitors an insight into the relationship between contemporary art and the French luxury house’s leather goods savoir-faire.
As Associate Partner of Art Basel Paris, Louis Vuitton will showcase the evolution of Artycapucines since its launch in 2019, displaying the bags alongside artworks by their creators. The presentation also introduces a new collection dedicated to the work of American artist Keith Haring, whose distinctive visual language features across a series of designs.
The exhibition’s scenography draws inspiration from archival storage and fine-art transportation, with open crates, plinths and trunk-like structures crafted from brushed aluminium and cotton canvas. The installation references Louis Vuitton’s origins as a trunk-maker, connecting the protection and movement of precious objects with the House’s heritage.
Among the featured artists, Alex Israel’s colourful Cut-Out-Fin (Golden Hour) is presented alongside his fin-inspired Artycapucines design, while Urs Fischer’s Fruits finds a playful counterpart in a bag featuring a suspended banana. Sam Falls’s botanical compositions and Tschabalala Self’s layered approach to painting and textiles similarly demonstrate how artistic practices have been translated into leather.
Other pairings explore material and texture. Kennedy Yanko’s metal-and-paint-skin sculpture Because of its blues echoes the sculptural form of her Artycapucines creation, while Liza Lou’s intricate work with painted glass beads reflects the detailed craftsmanship of her 2023 design. Billie Zangewa’s embroidered-silk work Soldier of Love also features, highlighting the relationship between textile art and leather goods.
The retrospective further celebrates Louis Vuitton’s longstanding relationships with artists Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama and Frank Gehry. Murakami’s Monogramouflage Skull (Black) accompanies his camouflage-inspired bag, while works by Kusama and Gehry demonstrate the breadth of their creative exchanges with the House.
The Keith Haring collection will be displayed alongside a Louis Vuitton suitcase from the 1930s, signed by the artist in the 1980s. Its designs incorporate Haring’s recognisable figures, dancers, hearts and decorative symbols.
Louis Vuitton’s artistic collaborations date back to 1920, when it worked with Pierre Legrain. Artycapucines continues this legacy, bringing together individual artistic visions and traditional craftsmanship. For the first time, a selection of books from Louis Vuitton Editions will also be available at the Art Basel Store.
