Artists And Labels: The Continuing Story

If Marc builds it, they will come. The contemporary artist/fashion label complex, that is, which Jacobs sent to new heights with his accessory collaborations with Louis Vuitton. Yes, artists and designers had collaborated before—including Dalí and Schiaparelli way back when—but the runaway success of Louis Vuitton’s Murakami bags (and the follow-up Richard Prince “joke” bags) has given contemporary artists a new form to play with and, just as importantly, a new revenue stream. The latest is the conceptual art star Jenny Holzer, who’s teaming up with Keds to create kicks this summer. (Artist’s canvas, taken literally.) The high-top and low-top styles are emblazoned with PROTECT ME FROM WHAT I WANT, a phrase from Holzer’s text series Survival. They’ll be available online and at select Bloomingdale’s locations in July. The footwear brand is giving back to the art world, too: Keds is sponsoring the Whitney’s summer season.
$70 to $75, available at select Bloomingdale’s locations and beginning July 8.

PLUS: Click below for a few of our favorite recent art/fashion collabs.

The late Robert Mapplethorpe (and the Mapplethorpe Foundation) for Chloé Sevigny for O.C., Resort 2011 tees

Scott Campbell for Louis Vuitton menswear, Spring 2011 tattoos (Campbell also created two collaborative bags for the Spring ‘11 menswear collection)