Louis Vuitton's new creative director Pharrell Williams wants to reintroduce the arts competitions, last held in 1948, to the Olympics. In his intervention at the Louis Vuitton Foundation building for the 2024 Paris Olympics opening, Williams expressed his desire to see these competitions return by the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.
Pharrell Williams advocates for a return of art competitions at the Olympics from 2028
Sport-inspired works of architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture were awarded until 1948, and Vuitton's creative director has called for the return of this tradition.
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- Ilaria Bonvicini
- 05 August 2024
Envisioned in 1906 by modern Olympic founder Pierre de Coubertin but officially introduced in 1926, these competitions included five categories, architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture, with medals awarded for sport-inspired works and were held alongside the sporting events. Notable winners include Dutch architect Jan Wils for the design of the 1928 Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam, John Russell Pope for the Payne Whitney Gymnasium of Yale University and German architect Werner March, who won 2 medals in town planning and architectural design. The art competitions were discontinued after 1948 due to concerns over professional participation, as the Olympics traditionally featured amateur athletes.