Pokémon Moves Into Van Gogh Museum As A Lightning Tribute To The Artist

On the left: Pikachu inspired by Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat, Naoyo Kimura (1960), The Pokémon Company International. On the right: Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat, Vincent van Gogh, 1887, Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam (Vincent van Gogh Foundation). Image via Van Gogh Museum

The Van Gogh Museum and Pokémon have chosen each other to take on new adventures in celebration of the Amsterdam museum’s 50th anniversary. First cryptically teased earlier this month, the unexpected collaboration left fans’ mouths agape (cue the surprised Pikachu meme) and had them guessing what was to come.

Now, it’s been confirmed that your favorite pocket monsters have entered the major art league of the Van Gogh Museum by channeling the artist’s works.

Sunflora inspired by Sunflowers, 2022, Tomokazu Komiya (1973), The Pokémon Company International. Image via Van Gogh Museum

While it might seem like an unusual pairing at first glance, both Van Gogh’s masterpieces and Pokémon have a unique connection to Japanese art and culture. Japanese prints left an indelible mark on Vincent’s art and worldview.

In a letter to his brother Theo in 1888, Van Gogh mused, “And we wouldn't be able to study Japanese art, it seems to me, without becoming much happier and more cheerful, and it makes us return to nature, despite our education and our work in a world of convention.”

The heart of this collaboration lies on the first floor of the Rietveld building, where the Van Gogh Museum’s iconic works have inspired six paintings crafted by artists from The Pokémon Company. You'll find Pikachu reimagined in the style of Self-portrait with Grey Felt Hat (1887), Pokémon Sunflora hidden within a variant of Van Gogh's famous Sunflowers (1889), and Snorlax and Munchlax leisurely reclining in a piece inspired by The Bedroom (1888).

Pikachu inspired by Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat, Naoyo Kimura (1960), The Pokémon Company International. Image via Van Gogh Museum

For young and curious explorers, the museum offers an engaging adventure. Equipped with a leaflet, budding art connoisseurs can explore the works that served as inspiration for the six-piece presentation. As they navigate the museum, they’ll uncover the stories behind the paintings. Completing the Pokémon Adventure activity earns participants a special Pikachu x Van Gogh Museum promo card.

Even the museum’s restaurant gets in on the action with a guided video activity teaching visitors how to draw the beloved Pokémon, Pikachu.

For those eager to take a piece of this unique collaboration home, both the Van Gogh Museum Shop and The Pokémon Center online store feature an exclusive range of Pokémon x Van Gogh Museum merchandise.

Image via Van Gogh Museum

Hopeful Pokémon trainers at the upper primary and lower secondary education levels may also get their starter Van Gogh through online learning materials available for schools, kicking off a journey of fascination with art.

In essence, this tie-in aims to resonate with Pokémon and Van Gogh enthusiasts of all ages, all while introducing the younger generation to the enchanting world of Vincent van Gogh’s art.

Munchlax & Snorlax inspired by The Bedroom, by sowsow (1988), The Pokémon Company International. Image via Van Gogh Museum

“We are always looking for fantastic partners that we can create unique and joyful experiences with for Pokémon fans, and we have genuinely found that in working with the Van Gogh Museum,” expresses Mathieu Galante, director of licensing at The Pokémon Company International. “There is a strong link between the inspiration behind Pokémon and the inspiration behind some of Vincent van Gogh’s most famous work. With this collaboration we really hope that we can see children discovering and immersing themselves into the world of art through the incredible works of Van Gogh and Pokémon.”

This power-packed fusion will reside at the Van Gogh Museum through January 7, 2024. Admission tickets are exclusively available online.

[via Van Gogh Museum]