Louis Vuitton Opens oma-designed show in osaka
Louis Vuitton: Visionary Journeys is now open at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka, Japan. Designed by Shohei Shigematsu of OMA, the exhibition occupies 2,200 square meters of the museum and is organized into eleven thematic galleries. These are grouped into four interconnected zones — history, codes, process behind the craft, and cultural dialogue — that together express the enduring identity of the House.
The exhibition design celebrates spatial variety, with each room conceived as a unique set within a continuous narrative. Shigematsu explains that the scenography aims to translate Louis Vuitton’s legacy into an architectural journey, one that goes beyond objects to explore ideas. Osaka’s long-standing role as a center of trade and craftsmanship in Japan underscores the choice of venue, bringing a contextual layer to the Maison’s exploration of heritage and innovation.
the exhibition spans 2,200 square meters at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art | images courtesy Louis Vuitton
Monumental Interventions in the Museum Atrium
Visitors to Louis Vuitton: Visionary Journeys first encounter eight monumental lanterns, which the team at OMA suspends from the Osaka museum’s five-story atrium. Each 12.5-meter-tall column stacks trunk-like forms wrapped in Monogram washi paper, arranged in six unique configurations. The lanterns emphasize the verticality of the atrium while casting a soft, diffuse glow, creating a welcoming transition into the exhibition.
Beyond the atrium, the entrance gallery is anchored by a hemispherical installation composed of 138 authentic Louis Vuitton trunks. Mirrored by the glass floor below, the self-supporting structure forms a complete globe, referencing themes of exploration and global exchange. The trunks’ structural integrity alone holds the piece together, exemplifying the balance of strength and lightness that defines the House’s craftsmanship.
a hemispherical globe is built from 138 Louis Vuitton trunks
a celebration of Japanese influences
Speaking to its context in Osaka, Louis Vuitton and OMA prominently feature Japan as both subject and context throughout the exhibition. A dedicated gallery, Louis Vuitton and Japan, examines artistic and cultural exchanges between the brand and the country. The display spans centuries, from traditional garments and samurai armor to contemporary pop culture, all arranged on modular platforms evocative of tatami mats.
Other rooms trace the evolution of Louis Vuitton’s creative codes. In the Origins room, a hand-woven bamboo armature carries the timeline of the Maison’s six historic eras, reflecting a shared respect for craftsmanship. Two galleries are devoted to the Monogram canvas, charting its development from early influences, including Japanese motifs, to its use in contemporary designs.
hand-woven bamboo structures and archival materials highlight LV’s craftsmanship legacy
The Expeditions gallery immerses visitors inside a full-scale inflatable hot-air balloon that doubles as a display structure and projection surface. In the Materials gallery, a dense arrangement of foundational components is presented in a way that appears weightless, giving visitors the sense of peering into an infinite archive. Atelier Rarex, a selection of exceptional pieces, is displayed along a boulevard backdrop modeled on the mansard roofline of Louis Vuitton’s Paris flagship.
The Workshop gallery incorporates arched windows, sawtooth roofs, and workbenches modeled after the House’s Asnières atelier, where craftspeople conduct live demonstrations. Mirrored ‘skylights’ allow these processes to be observed from anywhere in the room. Meanwhile, the Testing gallery introduces visitors to the machinery and protocols behind product durability, bringing the brand’s laboratory into the museum context.
In the Collaborations gallery, four mirrored domes house works by artists and brands such as Stephen Sprouse, Supreme, Yayoi Kusama, and Takashi Murakami. The reflections create a kaleidoscopic environment that reconstitutes each partnership as part of Louis Vuitton’s broader creative ecosystem.
an inflatable hot-air balloon and mirrored displays offer immersive environments for storytelling
a gallery dedicated to Japan explores the brand’s cultural exchanges using tatami-inspired platforms
live workshops and testing galleries recreate the Asnières atelier within the museum
Shohei Shigematsu organizes four zones focused on history, craft, codes, and cultural dialogue
mirrored domes reflect key collaborations in a kaleidoscopic environment of contemporary design
project info:
name: Visionary Journeys
designer: Louis Vuitton | @louisvuitton
exhibition design: Shohei Shigematsu / OMA | @shohei_shigematsu @omanewyork
museum: Nakanoshima Museum of Art | @nakkaart2022
location: Osaka, Japan
dates: July 15th — September 17th, 2025
photography: courtesy Louis Vuitton
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