Art Meets Fashion

Breezy nights, a crisp bite in the air and a return of pumpkin spice lattes signal more than just the start of fall and back to school season. During these first couple of weeks of September the art world ramps back up into full gear as Fall Fashion Week hits both the catwalk and the streets. While this week of glitz, drama, and of course daring fashion wraps up, we take a look at the ways in which art and fashion inform each other in the works of three contemporary artists. Anna Kincaide, Jane Maxwell and Anja Van Herle blur the lines between the two worlds as their work both elevates as well as adapts iconic fashion moments into their unique artistic practices.

• ANNA KINCAIDE
  

The spirit of Holly Golightly can be felt in Anna Kincaide’s new body of work that references both design as well as fashion history. As Coco Chanel once famously said, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take at least one thing off.” Kincaide keeps the palette mostly simple and minimalist, giving breathing room to both the composition as well as ensemble that is topped by colorful, plume-like swirls, that feel both botanical as well as fantastical. The combination brings to mind both the famous little black dress as well as the modern, elegant fascinators favored by the always impeccably dressed Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton.

• JANE MAXWELL

Maxwell continues the tradition of the LBD paired with all the mystery, intrigue and high fashion of the catwalk in herRed Walking Girls.Additionally, Maxwell utilizes patterns created from found paper materials and other appropriated printed materials to create dimensionality, volume, and shape, defining the female figure. The simplicity of the pieces is belied by the complexity of the artist’s collage process, which echoes on the traditional idea of what is considered  as “women’s work”, as yarn was arduously spun, dyed, and woven into clothing. Through process and image, Maxwell’s work presents a nuanced, self-reflective message.

• ANJA VAN HERLE

Anja Van Herle’s pieces seamlessly blend lustrous, timelessly chic visages with juicy, bold color palettes. Van Herle’s women feel as though they are fashion, inhabiting a world of endless, perfectly blended smoky eyes, glossy lips, and perfect coifs. Enticingly surreal, the images seem to challenge us to just try and look away from their hypnotic gaze. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, and looking into the eyes of one of Van Herle’s pieces, it’s hard not to be drawn into their devastating beauty.