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From Canvas to Frame: Matisse’s Cut-Outs Inspire MoMA x Akila Eyewear
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Henri Matisse spent much of his final decade working flat on the floor, cutting painted paper into shape with scissors. It was, he said, a way of drawing directly in color – a method that produced some of the most joyful and immediately recognizable images of the twentieth century. Bold, graphic, and built from pure color relationships, these late works balance simplicity with a strong visual impact.
That spirit carries into a new sunglass collection by Los Angeles–based eyewear brand Akila, developed exclusively for the MoMA Design Store with works licensed through Artists Rights Society (ARS). The collection draws on three works by Matisse, two of which are held in MoMA’s permanent collection, and translates his forms and palette into six styles across three silhouettes.
The Sheaf (La Gerbe) (1953) informs the Apollo frame, a chunky silhouette that echoes the work’s burst of leaf-like forms and sense of movement. The cut-out pattern covers the entire frame and arms in a dense, colorful all-over print on the transparent blue colorway. The black colorway keeps the pattern as an interior detail – visible to the wearer, but not the world.
The Knife Thrower, from the artist’s book Jazz (1943–47), lends its vivid palette to the Syndicate, a classic rectangular frame. Here the cut-out motif is used as an accent rather than an all-over print, appearing as small graphic details on the temples and arms. The style comes in two colorways – black with pink lenses and a dusty pink frame with brown lenses.
A third style takes a round silhouette inspired by the glasses Matisse himself wore, with boldly striped arms giving it the most graphic, playful energy of the collection. The pattern draws on the cut-out Matisse designed for MoMA’s 1951 exhibition catalogue. Black with green lenses offers a more understated take, while the light blue frame with yellow lenses brings the color energy of the cut-outs front and center.
All six styles are handmade from biodegradable acetate and engraved with Matisse’s signature. Each pair comes with a padded puff pouch with a magnetic closure and carrying strap, along with a microfiber lens cloth, both printed with reproductions of the works. The pouch and cloth are also available separately.
The collection is available exclusively through the MoMA Design Store.
The right art brings any collaboration into sharper focus. Contact us at info@arsny.com to explore licensing opportunities with ARS.
All artwork by Henri Matisse © 2026 Succession H. Matisse / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
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