The Capucines East-West Mini Maze and Capucines Mini Figures from Louis Vuitton’s Keith Haring Artycapucines handbag collection.Courtesy Louis Vuitton via WWD

Louis Vuitton Collaborates with Keith Haring Foundation for its Latest Artycapucines Handbag Collection

by · ARTnews

For the eighth iteration of its “Artycapucines” collection, Louis Vuitton collaborated with the Keith Haring Foundation to create 13 new bag designs dedicated to the work of late American artist Keith Haring, WWD reported.

The bags will feature Haring’s bold graphic imagery, including his signature Running Heart and Radiant Baby dancing figures among the compositions. The designs will further incorporate such craft techniques as traditional leather marquetry and laser printing that transform Louis Vuitton’s iconic Capucines handbag into a wearable canvas.

Some highlights from the new 13-piece collection include the Capucines Nano Running Heart evening clutch derived from Haring’s eponymous 1984 artwork and covered in more than 12,000 crystals; a minaudière, or vanity case, shaped like a takeout container in Haring’s “Statue of Liberty” and “Big Apple” motifs; and the Capucines MM Genesis inspired by a Louis Vuitton suitcase that was previously customized by Haring in 1984.

These new designs are part of a larger ongoing collaboration between the foundation and the French fashion house, with Louis Vuitton featuring Haring’s designs on clothing in its womenswear presentation at the Frick Collection in New York earlier this year.

Past versions of the Capucines handbag have included collaborations with artist Takashi Murakami and Sotheby’s auction house, the latter of which featured the likes of 22 artists from Urs Fischer and Ugo Rondinone to Tschabalala Self and Jonas Wood.

Haring, whose artwork is characterized by bold outlines and rhythmic figures punctuated by playful wit, has become synonymous with the 1980s New York downtown art scene. His work moved fluidly between city streets, art institutions, and broader pop culture, and has retained its relevance to this day. In his final years, Haring created powerful political imagery and was a particularly outspoken advocate for safe sex and AIDS awareness. He died at age 31 in 1990 from AIDS-related complications.

The capsule line of 13 Haring “Artycapucines” designs will debut at the Louis Vuitton booth at Art Basel Paris, along with previous Artycapucines editions, and opens to the public on October 23. The handbags will be released in Louis Vuitton stores starting on January 1, 2027, with a broader Haring-inspired collection spanning ready-to-wear, leather goods, and accessories, expected to be unveiled later this year.