For Acne Studios, art isn’t an accessory to fashion—it’s built into the brand’s core identity. From the beginning, creative director Jonny Johansson has used Acne not just as a fashion house, but as a collaborative platform for artists across disciplines, fusing culture and clothing into one seamless narrative.
Now, Johansson takes that vision further with the launch of his first permanent art gallery: the Acne Paper Palais Royal, housed in the brand’s original Paris flagship under the arcades of the Palais Royal. The 60-square-meter space isn’t just retail or exhibition—it’s a physical manifestation of the brand’s cultural magazine, Acne Paper, and opens its doors on June 26 with a solo exhibition by Paul Kooiker.
But Johansson is clear about intent: “We are not gallery owners,” he tells WWD. The goal isn’t commerce—it’s to support under-recognized artists who inspire the Acne Studios team, creating a platform for unfiltered expression and new conversations within the art world. He warns against over-strategizing, saying, “When you calculate these things, they lose value too quickly… they become soulless.”
The choice of Paul Kooiker is no coincidence. The Dutch photographer previously collaborated with the brand on the Fall/Winter 2022 campaign, starring Rosalía, and now becomes the inaugural artist to exhibit in this cultural-meets-fashion space.
Photos: Paul Kooiker / Acne Studios