Cover The 2023 Artycapucines collection will exclusively be available in limited editions of 200 per bag (Photo: courtesy of Louis Vuitton)
The 2023 Artycapucines collection will exclusively be available in limited editions of 200 per bag (Photo: courtesy of Louis Vuitton)
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A series of contemporary artists lend their creative expressions to the heirloom-worthy Capucines handbag
Louis Vuitton has always had a knack for bringing together craftsmanship with an appreciation for visual arts, and the release of chapter five of its Artycapucines collection is the perfect case in point.
The collection is a modern expression of creativity, underpinned by the maison’s established codes of craftsmanship and tradition. First launched on the 2013 autumn-winter runway, the handbag style is an ode to years gone by, championing a structured top-handle silhouette that speaks to timeless nostalgia and is named after the Parisian Rue Neuve-des-Capucines, where Louis Vuitton first opened its doors in 1854. These nods to the past blend with new ideas from the series of contemporary artists who have put their unique stamps on the coveted Capucines. Launched in 2019, the Artycapucines initiative has so far seen the imaginations of 29 artists combine their creativity with the masterful artisanal craftsmanship that sits at the heart of each handbag.
The fifth series of the Artycapucines Collection features five artists. Billie Zangewa, who hails from Malawi and is based in South Africa, has brought to life her 2020 masterpiece The Swimming Lesson, featuring her son Mika.
Billie Zangewa (Photo: courtesy of Louis Vuitton)
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Known for her surrealist works, Polish painter Ewa Juszkiewicz chose to transfer her 2021 creation Ginger Locks onto a Capucines bag by accentuating a high-definition print and a string of golden pearls.
American artist Liza Lou, famed for her use of beads in sculptures and intimate artworks, brings subtle, beautifully textural beadwork to her piece through embossing in delicate pastel colours that gracefully drapes around the bag.
Franco-Serbian artistic duo Tursic and Mille reinvent the bag, with a signature flower shape framing a richly embroidered, coloured version of their 2021 painting Tenderness, and featuring a charred cedar wood handle.
Chinese artist Ziping Wang presents the smallest Artycapucines bag to date—a delightful confection of leather patchwork and marquetry in bright hues and candy-like motifs, which is a powerful commentary on our visually saturated, self-reflective world.
Cementing its desirability and its exclusivity, the 2023 Artycapucines collection, presented in specially designed boxes, will only be available in limited editions of 200 per bag—so aficionados of both luxurious artistry and the arts might want to move quickly.
