The latest fashion events are showing the increasing number of contemporary art references in the fashion world. The two worlds have always been linked in some way but these days it looks like the mutual influences are starting to become more and more trendy.
In the middle of this immense number of fashion events such as New York, Milan and Paris fashion weeks and a countless number of fashion shows and new designers, for those who enjoy contemporary art, it is impossible not to notice the influence of contemporary artists in the fashion world.
Starting for example with the most recent Gucci show last week; “Ancora” by Sabato de Sarno. De Sarno’s project for Gucci Prospettive involves the publication of a series of volumes, each of which will accompany each of the fashion house’s new collections, stimulating a dialogue between fashion and art. The first issue, “Milano Ancora”, was presented on September 19, during the opening of the exhibition on Via Fiori Chiari, and contains, among others, photographs of the works of the young artists: Cristiano Rizzo, Martino Santori, Noura Tafeche and Valerio Eliogabalo Torrisi.
De Sarno’s project for Gucci Prospettive involves the publication of a series of volumes, stimulating a dialogue between fashion and art.
In March 2023 we could also see Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelo´s spectacular artwork "Valkyrie Miss Dior" for the Maison´s Autumn/Winter 2023 show during Paris Fashion Week. The art piece, a twinkling, floating, floral installation that filled the inside of the runway became the center of the show creating an interesting interaction between Maria Gracia Chiuri´s designs and the Vasconcelo´s mesmerizing work.
A twinkling, floating, floral installation that filled the inside of the runway became the center of the show crating an interesting interaction between Maria Gracia Chiuri´s designs and the Vasconcelo´s mesmerizing work.
But this is not just a trend, if we look at the past we can find cases like the collaboration between Salvador Dali and Elsa Schiaparelli. Vogue magazine said that back in the 1930s, the two artists had invented the art/fashion collaboration, remarking that the irony, the mix of high and low materials, and the multimedia promotional materials that they pioneered are still used by artists and designers nowadays.
"Dalí and Schiaparelli invented the art/fashion collaboration, remarking the irony, the mix of high and low materials, and the multimedia promotional materials that they pioneered are still used by artists and designers nowadays"
Anyway if we recollect the names of artists that have collaborated with designers to join fashion and art together, the list goes on and on, here are some examples of the most recent ones: Louis Vuitton x Jeff Koons 2017, Calvin Klein x Andy Warhol 2018, Cindy Sherman x Undercover 2018, Anne Imhof x Burberry 2020, Stella McCartney x Various artists for the Spring 2021 collection, Nadia Lee Cohen x Balenciaga Fall 2022, Joana Vasconcelos X Dior at Paris Fashion Week Show 2023…
If we recollect the names of artists that have collaborated with designers to join fashion and art together, the list goes on and on.