The dazzling universe of Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami reunites at Art Basel Paris 2025.

At Art Basel Paris 2025, Takashi Murakami brings his vibrant visual universe in its entirety—featuring iconic motifs such as the Smiling Flower, Panda Bear, and Jellyfish Eye—onto 11 versions of the Capucines bag, affirming the power of Pop Art as it intersects with luxury.

Louis Vuitton once again affirms its position as a prominent associate partner at Art Basel Paris 2025, marking its third consecutive year in this role. This year’s event shines brighter than ever with the highly anticipated reunion with renowned contemporary artist Takashi Murakami, nearly two decades after their first collaboration sparked a global phenomenon. At the heart of this artistic encounter is the unveiling of the Artycapucines VII – Louis Vuitton × Takashi Murakami collection, opening a new chapter in the profound dialogue between the French fashion house’s masterful craftsmanship and the Japanese artist’s surreal, color-saturated visual universe.

THE “GIANT OCTOPUS” INSTALLATION: A GATEWAY TO A FANTASTICAL WORLD

To celebrate this landmark occasion, Takashi Murakami has conceived a singular installation—an immersive and striking visual experience that takes over the majestic Balcon d’Honneur of the Grand Palais. At the heart of the exhibition stands a colossal octopus sculpture, eight meters tall, inspired by traditional Chinese lanterns. Its monumental tentacles stretch outward, enveloping the space and forming a vivid, living labyrinth.

Created specifically for the Grand Palais, the installation extends its design to the floor, which is covered in a matching tentacle motif. The octopus’s illuminated head features Murakami’s iconic Superflat Jellyfish Eyes motif, first introduced in 2001—an image that transforms a childhood fear of being watched into a bizarre yet entirely non-threatening form. Alongside this, the Kraken motif recalls The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg (2017), exemplifying Murakami’s ability to turn universal fears into playful, humorous expressions.

ARTYCAPUCINES VII: 11 “SCULPTURAL FASHION” MASTERPIECES

It is within the hallucinatory space of the octopus’s tentacles that the 11 creations from the Artycapucines VII – Louis Vuitton × Takashi Murakami collection are displayed. The iconic Capucines bags become the perfect “canvas,” where Murakami’s signature characters and motifs—from Mr. DOB to the Superflat Panda, along with vibrant Smiling Flowers—are brought vividly to life.

The collection revolves around three spherical Cotton Balls that Murakami has been developing since 1995. These three-dimensional cotton-fabric sculptures immerse viewers in a kaleidoscopic vision. Notably, the Capucines EW Rainbow bag echoes the legendary rainbow flower; the Capucines Mini Mushroom is a hallucinatory masterpiece featuring around 100 mushroom elements crafted through 3D printing and meticulously hand-embroidered; while the Capucines EW Dragon exquisitely reinterprets the painting Dragon in Clouds Indigo Blue (2010) with unprecedented refinement. The fusion of masterful traditional craftsmanship and advanced technologies such as 3D printing transforms each bag into a mobile work of “sculptural fashion.”

In particular, the Panda Clutch, meticulously hand-embellished with 6,300 strass crystals, stands as the clearest testament to the fusion of Murakami’s kawaii aesthetic and Louis Vuitton’s pinnacle of refinement.

AN ENDURING LEGACY OF ARTISTIC COLLABORATION

The artistic bond between Louis Vuitton and Takashi Murakami began in 2003, when the artist became the first to reinterpret the Maison’s iconic Monogram canvas. This collaboration left a profound cultural imprint, transcending the boundaries of fashion alone.

Born in 1960, Murakami is internationally acclaimed for his singular artistic approach, which merges traditional Japanese nihonga painting with the worlds of anime, science fiction, and popular culture. He dismantles the barriers between high art and subculture, between Japanese and Western art, freely blending them within an ever-expanding imagination. It is precisely this bold, vibrant style that has led him to the world’s leading institutions.

With the launch of Artycapucines VII, Louis Vuitton once again renews its commitment to contemporary creation—a legacy initiated by Gaston-Louis Vuitton nearly a century ago. The Capucines bag, named after the Paris street where Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854, has served as a canvas for more than 30 contemporary artists since 2019. This ultra-limited-edition collection not only celebrates the enduring vitality of art, but also affirms Capucines as the ultimate expression of femininity and the perfect embodiment of the Louis Vuitton woman—one who carries a complex and singular artistic narrative, an unmistakable symbol of individuality.

The Artycapucines VII – Louis Vuitton × Takashi Murakami collection will make its global debut on October 21 at Art Basel Paris.