Pharrell Williams is on a mission to reintroduce arts competitions into the Olympics, aiming to revive a tradition that has been absent for nearly 80 years. Williams is using his high-profile Louis Vuitton event in Paris as a platform to raise awareness for this cause.
The artist and designer expressed his enthusiasm for reinstating arts competitions at the 2028 Olympics, highlighting the historical significance of the tradition. “We get to remind people that at one point, the Olympics actually had the arts as a section that ran all these competitions,” Williams said. “Sculpture, architecture, visual arts. The idea we get to put the arts back in… Why not take this moment to bring awareness?”
Arts competitions were first introduced at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, with medals awarded in categories such as architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture. However, the International Olympic Committee discontinued these competitions after the 1948 Games, and a subsequent attempt to revive them was unsuccessful.
Williams’s event at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris featured a star-studded guest list, including LeBron James, Steven Spielberg, Mick Jagger, Zendaya, and many others. The event, described by Williams as an “indoor carnival,” showcased interactive art installations by renowned artists such as KAWS, Daniel Arsham, and Derek Fordjour. It also included representations of various sports and carnival games.
Williams highlighted that the event aimed to support Olympic hopefuls and the Refugee Olympic Team, which includes 36 athletes from 11 different countries competing this year. Through donations and awareness, Williams hopes to contribute to both the arts and the Olympic spirit.
