Louis Vuitton x Yayoi Kusama

Rodeo Drive

Hallucinations. Yayoi Kusama’s designs originated as a result of hallucinations she’s had since childhood. She saw patterns multiplying and engulfing her and painting these visions helped her gain a sense of control. This Japanese artist turns 94 next month and this is her second collaboration with Louis Vuitton, after working with designer Marc Jacobs when he led the house in 2012, on these Speedy bags, for example.

When I stopped by the Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive shop, I think I was more obsessed with the two story statue of Yayoi much more than the colorful dots that motivated my visit.

This statue painting polka dots is nothing compared to below’s Tokyo’s Shinjuku shop and their 3D billboard - or Yayoi’s likeness atop a Paris shop, ‘painting spots’ on the building. All are the brainchild of the brand’s Faye Mcleod, who calls herself a rebellious Scot, and strategizes the weekly window changes of their 450 shops sprinkled around the globe.

> Shinjuku 3D <

> Paris per HYPEBEAST <

Back to Beverly Hills: Let’s go inside…