The iconic fashion house Louis Vuitton deepens its cultural dialogue with Japan through Visionary Journeys, an immersive exhibition at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, Osaka, July 15 to September 17, 2025. The event coincides with the brand’s 170th anniversary and the World Expo Osaka Kansai 2025, marking a pivotal moment in Louis Vuitton’s storied legacy.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Since its opening in 2022, the Nakanoshima Museum of Art has quickly become a leading institution for modern and contemporary Japanese culture. With its striking black façade and expansive interior, the museum provides an ideal setting to trace Louis Vuitton’s evolution into the modern age. Curated by renowned fashion historian Florence Müller and designed by Shohei Shigematsu at OMA, the exhibition unfolds through twelve thematic chapters that chart the brand’s creative and cultural journey.
A Focus on Brand History
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
The journey begins in the museum’s Atrium, where visitors are welcomed by eight illuminated trunk columns made from LV Monogram washi paper. These signature installations—two distinct “Trunkscape” designs, one stacked and one offset—set the tone for the exhibit’s exploration of legacy and innovation.
From there, guests travel to Asnières, where archival images, drawings, and footage depict the origins of the Vuitton family and their workshop, tracing the house’s rise since its founding in 1854 and its path toward global recognition.
Expanding Designs Highlight Louis Vuitton’s Travel Heritage
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Origins showcases pivotal creations such as the flat-top trunk, the Steamer bag, and Louis Vuitton’s revolutionary lock system—symbols of its early reputation as an innovator in luxury travel.
Expeditions highlights the brand’s expansion into more adventurous journeys, featuring zinc travel trunks and the “Secrétaire Bureau Stokowski.” An inhabitable hot-air balloon installation invites visitors to dream of exploration, whether it be to a Caribbean island or a quiet Japanese mountain village.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
In Louis Vuitton and Japan, the exhibition examines the enduring cultural exchange between the brand and Japan, from early Japonisme influences to collaborations with contemporary icons like Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Rei Kawakubo, and NIGO. Floating tatami platforms and curated light fixtures enhance the presentation of exclusive Japanese archives, including a monogrammed trunk designed to hold a full Japanese tea ceremony set.
A Dive into the Louis Vuitton Archives
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
In Materials, the house’s four essential elements—wood, metal, leather, and canvas—are celebrated for their beauty and resilience. These raw components have shaped everything from travel trunks to modern accessories.
A dreamlike installation in Monogram Canvas spotlights Georges Vuitton’s groundbreaking 1896 design, including a rediscovered 1897 sample from the Archives de Paris—an artifact that laid the groundwork for the motif’s lasting impact.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
The Workshop honors the artisans behind each handcrafted Louis Vuitton piece. Archival footage, tools, and original sketches provide insight into their meticulous process. Two bespoke trunks are featured here: the Courrier Trunk for Osaka-born designer Verdy and a Toolbox Trunk for artist and House ambassador Sho Hirano.
In Testing, visitors are introduced to the technical side of craftsmanship, including the “Louise” and “Louisette” instruments used to test each trunk’s strength, flexibility, and wear resistance. Live demonstrations reinforce the brand’s commitment to transparency and engineering excellence.
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Atelier Rarex pays tribute to Louis Vuitton’s couture workshop at Place Vendôme. A recreation of its iconic mansard roof houses windows niches that display exceptional couture pieces worn by celebrities at global events and galas.
The exhibit culminates in Collaborations, where four kaleidoscopic domes spotlight groundbreaking partnerships that have shaped fashion history—from Stephen Sprouse’s graffiti prints to the Supreme x Louis Vuitton capsule collection. In an industry that moves at breakneck speed, these moments remind us of the timeless power of creative collaboration.
Visionary Journeys is more than an exhibition; it is an invitation to reflect on how Louis Vuitton continues to reimagine travel—not just through the trunks and bags that carry our belongings, but through garments and experiences that connect us to culture, beauty, and innovation.
Infinity by Yayoi Kusama at Espace Louis Vuitton
Courtesy of Louis Vuitton.
Running alongside the main exhibit, the Espace Louis Vuitton Osaka presents “Yayoi Kusama: Infinity – Selected Works from the Collection” during the World Expo Osaka Kansai 2025. Part of the Fondation Louis Vuitton’s “Hors-les-murs” program, this chronological exhibition introduces Kusama’s artistic evolution from her early years in New York to her return to Japan and global acclaim.
Spanning disciplines including painting, sculpture, installation, literature, performance, and fashion, Kusama’s work invites viewers to engage with recurring themes of identity, perception, and infinity. Each piece offers a new lens through which to understand the artist—and ourselves.
