A trunk-filled time capsule, a mirrored tatami dream, and Japan’s most influential artists. Louis Vuitton’s new exhibition in Osaka captures it all in twelve precise chapters.
Louis Vuitton has opened Visionary Journeys, a large-scale exhibition at Osaka’s Nakanoshima Museum of Art, on view through September 17. Timed ahead of World Expo Osaka Kansai 2025 and marking the house’s 170th anniversary, the show explores Vuitton’s roots in craft, travel, and cultural exchange.
Twelve themed chapters shape the exhibition. The entry alone makes its point: eight towering trunks crafted from translucent washi paper hang in the atrium like oversized lanterns. They lead to the Trunk Hemisphere, a dome made of 138 stacked trunks, a kind of portal into the house’s world.
The Asnières room revisits Vuitton’s early years, with sketches, workshop footage, and archival images tracing its journey from 19th-century trunk maker to global name. Nearby, zinc trunks and a travelling desk speak to the house’s more utilitarian chapters.
Japan has a dedicated space. Floating tatami platforms display works by Yayoi Kusama, Takashi Murakami, Rei Kawakubo, and NIGO. The mirrored ceiling multiplies the scene, blurring the lines between gallery and installation. Kusama’s dots, Kawakubo’s sculptural approach, and Murakami’s pop motifs all anchor Vuitton’s long-standing exchange with Japanese creatives.
The Monogram Canvas room focuses on the iconic pattern introduced by Georges Vuitton in 1896. A rare 1897 sample sits at the center of a star-shaped layout surrounded by decades of monogram variations. Two new trunks, made for Sho Hirano and Osaka’s own Verdy, appear in the Workshop room, which also includes archival footage from the Asnières atelier.
The final room centers on collaborations. Four mirrored domes showcase pieces from the Supreme collection, Stephen Sprouse, and the more surreal worlds of Kusama and Murakami. It’s a visually packed conclusion, and a reminder that Vuitton’s story keeps expanding.
Before leaving, visitors can stop by the gift shop for two exclusives: a Visionary Journeys notebook and a catalog. The exhibition is open by reservation through the museum’s site or Louis Vuitton’s official platform.
Location:
Nakanoshima Museum of Art
2-8-16 Shinsaibashi-suji, Chuo-ku
Osaka, 542-0085
Fifth floor of Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka
