Koons tacks his ‘Gazing Ball’ on Vuitton bags
New York-based pop artist Jeff Koons is the latest in a growing line of creative people applying their talents to Louis Vuitton bags and accessories.
Stephen Sprouse, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Yayoi Kusama and Cindy Sherman have all boosted the LV flair in recent years. Now Koons, one of the most widely recognised figures in contemporary art, has brought imagery from his “Gazing Ball” paintings – large-scale, hand-painted reproductions of works by the Old Masters – to a range of Vuitton products.
His recreations of masterpieces by Leonardo, Titian, Rubens, Fragonard and Van Gogh have been transposed onto popular bags such as the Speedy, the Keepall and the Neverfull.
In choosing works that consciously reference paintings of the past, Koons’ “Gazing Ball” series placed the artist within a chain of influence and inspiration that runs through the history of Western art.
By re-presenting these celebrated pieces on Louis Vuitton bags, Koons once again invites viewers to consider these works anew, opening the museum to the world and encouraging us to experience the Old Masters in novel ways. The bags are made with the highest-quality materials and each is boldly emblazoned with the name of the original artist whose work is recreated.
Koons has also reconfigured the famous Louis Vuitton Monogram to bear his initials. This represents a radical departure for the brand, which has never previously allowed its pattern to be reshaped.
Just as the “Gazing Ball” paintings placed Koons within the lineage of art history, so this collaboration situates the artist within the heritage of Louis Vuitton itself, demonstrating the power of the artistic gesture to connect the present day with a shared cultural history.
Elements from this new monogram have been crafted by Louis Vuitton in metal and placed on the exterior of the bag, as has Koons’ own signature.
Each bag also carries a tag in the shape of the inflatable rabbit which has proved to be an enduring motif in Koons’ work throughout his 40-year career, while a biography and portrait of the master whose work has been referenced is featured on the inside of the bag.
