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museum of contemporary art

Collector Sues Louis Vuitton Over Handbag Fabric Sold As Art

Filed under: Art

takashi murakami
Usually Louis Vuitton is on the suing end of lawsuits but it currently finds itself as the sued. Clint Arthur, who purchased several works by Takashi Murakami at the Vuitton boutique set up at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, is suing both Vuitton and the MOCA. Arthur first filed a lawsuit a year ago over a lack of proper documentation in regards to the two limited-edition prints he bought for a total of $12,000 in 2007. But now Clint Arthur considers himself the victim of a fraud after finding out, through an interview that the show curator Paul Schimmel did with ARTINFO in 2007 tthat the prints are made from the same materials as Murakami handbags. Basically Arthur could have bought himself a handbag for around $1,000 with the same fabric and some bonus hardware too.

Louis Vuitton says the blurring of art and commerce is part of the Murakami experience. Vuitton points out that Arthur has declined an offer of $12,000 plus interest which Vuitton alleges shows that the suit is just a bid for publicity and profit. Arthur for his part seems to be angry and driven by an urge to get to the bottom of the motives of both Murakami and Louis Vuitton. A hearing is scheduled for Monday on the motion to dismiss from Louis Vuitton.

Museum to Sell Louis Vuitton Handbags?

Filed under: Handbags, Events


Care to go designer handbag shopping at the local museum?

Wait...what?

Not just any local museum will do, but if you're in the vicinity of the Museum of Contemporary Art in L.A. you can totally go do that. Or you will be able to, once their exhibit honoring Japanese artist Takashi Murakami opens at the end of October. From October 29th to February 11th the museum will have high-end Louis Vuitton handbags and other pricey leather goods available for sale.

The explanation? Some say that in general with museums lately "the lines between commerce and pure art are increasingly blurred." Yeah, that's pretty blurry.


Via Styledash

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