Yayoi Kusama Brings the Avant Garde to Louis Vuitton

Yayoi Kusama is best known for her perspective-skewing work with polka dots, covering everything from trees to giant pumpkins with different sized dollops of black or white circles, usually affixed to a background of fire engine red. In recognition of her award-winning work, French fashion house Louis Vuitton has teamed up with Kusama and designer Marc Jacobs to produce a special edition of its Tambour line of wristwatches.

Measuring 29 mm and powered by a quartz movement, the Kusamesque montre is faithful to Kusama’s vision of repetitive patterns, though unlike her paintings and sculptures, this example of her work is embedded with diamonds. Ten diamonds, to be precise, along the index of the bespeckled red lacquer face of the watch. The patent monogram bracelet continues the theme of polka dots as it slips gracefully around the wrist, and in the process brings a sense of whimsy to the wearer’s look. The back of the case is etched with monochromatic polka dots as well as the signature of Yayoi Kusama, who currently lives in Japan and is considered one of the nation’s greatest living artists.

Only 188 pieces of this special edition will be produced, available exclusively at Louis Vuitton boutiques. A special Kusama-inspired Louis Vuitton boutique will open for a fixed amount of time at Paris’ Printemps department store for Parisien denizens of haute horology.

Like Haute Time? Join our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter @hautetime.