Louis Vuitton Brings the LV Trainer Into the Art World

Marc Richardson March 1, 2023

Louis Vuitton continues to deepen its ties with the art world, thanks to its new “White Canvas: LV Trainer in Residence” program, initiated by former Men’s Artistic Director Virgil Abloh and curated by Sky Gellatly, CEO and co-founder of ICNCLST.

Originally introduced by Abloh for his first collection at Louis Vuitton, Spring/Summer 2019, the LV Trainer has become one of Louis Vuitton’s most recognizable and sought-after pieces. The new program will see renowned artists use it as their canvas, reimagining the sneaker as a work of art, while shedding light on the creative processes of both the artists and the artisans who craft the LV Trainer at Louis Vuitton’s Fiesso d’Artico factories.

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The first instalment was created in collaboration with artists Lady Pink, Lee Quiñones and the Estate of Rammellzee, three artists who rose to prominence in the New York subway art and graffiti movements, while also becoming cult figures in the hip-hop community in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Louis Vuitton Brings The LV Trainer Into the Art World

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Lady Pink’s take on the LV Trainer is rendered in white and red, with stencilled brick patterns on the toe box and quarter panel. Lee Quiñones’ features metallic gold splatter across the shoe, with an illustrated hand on the toe box. The third iteration, created by the Estate of Rammellzee, adds colourful iconography from Rammellzee’s visual lexicon to a black leather LV Trainer, with a speckled midsole and orange detailing.

The three original hand-painted sneakers will be on display at Louis Vuitton’s ephemeral location at Garage Traversi, in Milan, from February 24th until March 16th, alongside an exhibit of Lady Pink’s, Lee Quiñones’ and Rammellzee’s work.