Louis Vuitton plans to unveil its cruise 2027 show on May 20 at The Frick Collection in New York City, marking the first time its galleries will be activated for a fashion show, according to the house — and kicking off a three-year sponsorship.
Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of women’s collections, typically chooses impressive locations of architectural significance, which he puts in dialogue with his fashions — and culture writ large.
“Surrounded by masterpieces spanning from the Renaissance onward, we enter into conversation with a place where art, history and beauty have long been preserved and celebrated,” the designer said in a statement shared exclusively with WWD. “It also marks the beginning of a meaningful relationship with an institution devoted to excellence and cultural heritage, further affirming Louis Vuitton’s commitment to engaging with art spaces that inspire and elevate creative expression.”
Starting in June, Vuitton will underwrite the Frick’s free evenings on the first Friday of each month through May 2027.
The French luxury brand will also serve as the lead sponsor of the next three major special exhibitions at the Frick with the first one being “Siena, the Art of Bronze: 1450 to 1500,” set to open in October, followed by a spring show dedicated to the French enameler Suzanne de Court.
Later in 2027, Vuitton will support a yet-to-be-announced monographic exhibition of 19th-century paintings.
In addition, a Louis Vuitton Curatorial Research Associate will support the activities of the museum’s curatorial department for two years. The position will be held by Yifu Liu, whose research focuses on artistic practices and exchange between Europe and China in the 18th century.
The Frick’s holdings include art and fashion from the courts of Louis XV and XVI and of the Qianlong Emperor, as well as Asian porcelain.
Open to the public since 1935, and previously the Gilded Age home of American industrialist and collector Henry Clay Frick, the museum completed a multiyear renovation project last year.
Over the years Vuitton cruise shows have taken place at locations including the Palais des Papes, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Avignon, France; Barcelona’s Park Güell; Isola Bella, the small Italian island on Lake Maggiore; the Bob Hope estate by John Lautner in Palm Springs, Calif.; Brazil’s otherworldly Museum of Contemporary Art Niterói by Oscar Niemeyer; Kyoto’s Miho Museum by Ieoh Ming Pei; the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence by Josep Lluís Sert, and the TWA Flight Center at JFK Airport in New York by Eero Saarinen.
This year, the lion’s share of destination cruise shows for big European houses are taking place in the U.S., which has been a standout market for luxury despite geopolitical turmoil.
