The collaboration is inspired by Koons’s “Gazing Ball” paintings and features prints of several iconic masterpieces from artists — da Vinci, Titian, Rubens, Fragonard and Van Gogh — splashed across classic Louis Vuitton bags like the Speedy, the Neverfull and the Keepall.
The capsule collection is a targeted departure from the brands elegant and classic aesthetic, it is insouciant and painfully cool, minimalist though carefully calculated. The entire collection is cohesive yet full of stand out pieces like the “Balloon Dog” sculpture bag.
While Louis Vuitton is no stranger to artist collaborations — the brand has worked with Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Yayoi Kusama and Stephen Sprouse, just to name a few — Koons might just be the biggest name to date. Meanwhile, Koons has, in the past, partnered with Stella McCartney and H&M. A notorious appropriation artist, Koons has been infamous for turning kitsch images and objects into art, but for his range of handbags, rucksacks and other expensive accessories he is turning great art back into popular culture. Each bag is plastered with the original artist’s name in an all-caps gold or silver plate. With this collaboration he successfully transforms old masters into fashion must-haves.