Vuitton Unpacked

In the heart of Osaka, where tradition meets innovation, Louis Vuitton’s exhibition Visionary Journeys has transformed the soaring halls of the Nakanoshima Museum of Art into a living archive of artistry, travel, and cultural exchange.

Marking the Maison’s 170th anniversary and aligning with World Expo Osaka, Kansai 2025, the exhibition invites visitors to step inside the storied world of one of the most iconic houses in fashion history.

Designed by architect Shohei Shigematsu of OMA and curated by fashion historian Florence Müller, the experience unfolds across 12 thematic chapters, featuring over 1,000 curated pieces—including 200 artefacts uniquely tied to Japan.

From the very first moment, the emphasis on handmade legacy is palpable. Towering columns of Monogram washi paper rise five stories high like sculptural sentinels, while a breathtaking hemisphere composed of 138 trunks arcs across the atrium—forming a symbolic gateway to the exhibition’s first chapter.

The journey begins in the Origins and Asnières galleries, where the story of Louis Vuitton unfolds—from its beginnings as a humble family workshop to its evolution into a global symbol of style. Archival sketches, early prototypes, and artist renderings reveal the foundations of the Maison’s design language. Pivotal moments come to light, including the invention of the flat-top trunk and the revolutionary Tumbler lock system.

Nearby, the Expeditions gallery evokes a spirit of adventure. Zinc-lined trunks and fold-out desks conjure both the romance of faraway lands and the practical art of travel itself. A full-sized hot air balloon installation floats overhead, nodding to Vuitton’s whimsical approach to travel campaigns through the decades.

Perhaps the most emotionally resonant space is the Louis Vuitton and Japan gallery—a tribute to cultural exchange and creative dialogue. Set atop suspended tatami platforms, the room showcases iconic collaborations with Japanese artists like Takashi Murakami, Rei Kawakubo, Yayoi Kusama, and NIGO. Their bold, visionary works appear side by side with historic Louis Vuitton pieces and rare artefacts from Japanese museums, celebrating a cross-cultural conversation decades in the making.

At the core of Visionary Journeys beats the Maison’s devotion to craft. In the Materials gallery, the four essential elements of trunkmaking—wood, metal, canvas, and leather—come alive through texture and story. Alongside these, visitors discover materials imbued with meaning such as Tamina-ishi, a rare Japanese stone, and Ōya stone, a volcanic rock used in Louis Vuitton’s Parisian architecture.

The Workshop room pulses with the spirit of the Maison’s master artisans. Suspended mid-air, iconic pieces command attention—a never-before-seen trunk from 1897 shares the spotlight with two bespoke creations made for Japanese talents: artist Sho Hirano and Osaka-born designer Verdy. Just beyond, the Testing gallery reveals the tools and time-honoured processes that uphold the brand’s strict standards of excellence. Live artisan demonstrations add a layer of intimacy—turning age-old traditions into a mesmerizing, behind-the-scenes experience.

The journey continues in the Atelier Rare X gallery, where one-of-a-kind couture creations—once seen only on red carpets at events like the Met Gala and the Academy Awards—are now revealed up close. The final room, Collaborations, is a kaleidoscopic celebration of creativity without borders. Inside, four vibrant domes explode with colour and form, spotlighting groundbreaking partnerships with artists such as Stephen Sprouse, Yayoi Kusama, and Takashi Murakami.

Before returning to the modern world, visitors are offered a final gesture—a chance to carry the story forward. Exclusive items such as the Exhibition Notebook, an official catalogue, and a pre-release of the new book Louis Vuitton and Japan are available at the exit—a reminder that some journeys never truly end.