Vacheron Constantin Pops With ‘Nicknames’ Exhibit And Pop Art Celebrations With Artist Jojo Anavim

When Vacheron Constantin officially opened its new flagship store in New York this past September, the brand announced its plan to offer museum-like exhibits that change every few months. The first such exhibit focused on the work of New York artist Chris Burden and his Metropolis II sculpture. It features two-story tall skylines of New York, complete with moving action-activated cars driving among the skyscrapers. Then, to complement the concept, Vacheron Constantin installed a pop-up exhibition of travel photos by renowned National Geographic photographer and mountain climber Cory Richards. Today, the store opens its doors to an exciting Pop Art Celebrations exhibit that – as its name indicates – honors some of the finest popular art of all time, as created by 35-year—old Jojo Anavim. 

Vacheron Constantin joined with the contemporary artist, Anavim, for this exhibit, which features a host of his works throughout the store. Anavim is a graphic designer who has created campaigns for  the likes of Sephora, W Hotels and Universal Music Group before moving on to create a full line of art. He has sold his work to a host of celebrities and sports stars. His art also adorns the Coca-Cola Archives Museum, Madison Square Garden and other points of interest. Anavim turns to an array of materials and techniques for his works that include collages, acrylic paints and blends of different mediums, with all for the art inspired by pop art and street art.  

The exhibit, which opened today and runs until March of 2022, features specially commissioned pieces by Anavim that boast Vacheron Constantin watches in  pop-art style, and a host of paintings that recall Vacheron Constantin’s mid-century heritage watches and their nicknames. Anavim wasted no time having fun and getting whimsical for this immersive experience of color, boldness and beauty. The collaboration yields a three-piece series of oil on canvas  art that reflects the holidays, as well. 

The paintings offer bursts of red, pink, blue and other hues indicative of the Pop Art cultural revolution that took place in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Just like the art from that era, the new paintings boast elements of everyday consumer items (soup cans, holiday lights and   candy, for instance.

At around the same time that Pop Art was emerging and making a strong cultural impression globally, Vacheron Constantin was busy creating new and unusual timepieces that reflected the era. Rectangular watches hard-cornered angular tonneau shaped watches and other fluted-like shapes made their debut. It was the original start of one of the brand’s themes today, Classic with a Twist.

Each of these new watches was so dynamic and impressive that collectors and followers began giving them nicknames. Now, to coincide with the Anavim exhibit, Vacheron Constantin unveils the “Nicknames” Heritage exhibition that showcases a selection of these watches alongside images created by Anavim to honor those names. Top among them: T-bird, Batman, Butterfly and more.

“At their essence the works are a celebration of time both literally and metaphorically, the presents of presence, if you will,” says Anavim. The three paintings created for this exhibit depict wrapped chocolates, a romantic embrace, and a ribbon-wrapped gift box opened to reveal a Vacheron Constantin Overseas watch.  The exhibit is on display at the North American flagship store at 28 East 57^th Street in New York.