To say that Maison Louis Vuitton symbolises the art of travel would be an understatement. The luxury brand’s iconic trunks, luggage and bags have, over the decades, accompanied travellers across the world. From zeppelin to ocean liner and from car to plane, chic jet-setters never venture far without their Vuitton.
Since 2010, the French house has further embraced its travel heritage by commissioning artists to explore foreign places with the express purpose of creating beautifully crafted chronicles filled with richly illustrated cultural and personal observations.
This year’s visual voyage is crafted by Croatian illustrator and novelist Miroslav Sekulić-Struja. The result is a silk-screen hardcover housing 116 drawings, recounting two people meeting, sharing their stories and healing together. Alongside the illustrations, one finds the artist’s biography and tales of his Berlin journey.
Experiencing the German capital through the lens of Sekulić-Struja is like reading a surrealist comic. No wonder given he first discovered the genre as a child during a stay in Germany. Born 1976 in Rijeka, he grew up in modest conditions. Living on the fringes of society and being exposed to the atmosphere of former Yugoslavia, has been shaping his work to this day. His art can be described as a dream-like escape of harsh realities and violence. The illustrator’s 2006 exhibit at Zagreb’s French Institute proved to be a turning point in his career, leading to residencies, art festivals, and two acclaimed graphic novels: Pelote dans la fumée and Petar & Liza.
Part of the brand’s “Travel Book Collection”, his sketchbook will be released in English, French and German and comes in 6 colours and 2 formats: a standard version and a large-format collector’s edition.
30 leather-bound, slipcase copies of The Travel Book Berlin are signed by the Croatian artist. Additionally, Louis Vuitton will host an exhibition of Miroslav Sekulić-Struja’s work at the fourth Festival du Dessin in Arles (18 April to 17 May 2026), featuring past travel book contributors Gabriella Giandelli and Miles Hyman.
Text LISA ZIRNGAST
