This fall, Brooklyn Public Library will present one of the largest American showcase ever assembled of the work of established and widely published fashion illustrators. Fashion Illustration: A Contemporary Look will run from Sept. 6 through Dec. 1, 2012, and will be accompanied by a series of panel discussions, fashion film series, fashion illustration classes and author talks throughout the fall season. This first-of-its-kind exhibition opens at the beginning of Fashion Week at the Central and Business & Career libraries.
“The artwork in this exhibition is breathtaking and displays the wide spectrum of artistic styles within the fashion illustration world,” said Linda E. Johnson, president & CEO of Brooklyn Public Library. “As New York City gears up for the start of Fashion Week, Brooklyn Public Library is proud to display the designs of some of the industry’s most talented artists.”
Library visitors will have the opportunity to view works by artists including Richard Haines, Izak Zenou and more that highlight a variety of mediums from ink to watercolor, masking tape to digital media. Viewers will gain a rare behind-the-scenes look at the inspiration and creative processes involved with major fashion advertising campaigns for brands including Chanel, Givenchy, Tiffany, Ray Ban, L’Oreal, Victoria’s Secret, Sephora and Henri Bendel. Much of the work featured in the exhibit has been showcased in major publications such as Vogue, Elle, InStyle, WWD and Daily Candy.
Never-before-seen images from the highly influential fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez (1943 – 1987) will also be on display at the exhibition. Lopez’s work has inspired generations of fashion illustrators, and he is credited with bringing in the “New Look” of fashion illustration. Rare photos and videos taken by Lopez of friends, models and colleagues such as Jerry Hall, Grace Coddington, Pat Cleveland, Grace Jones and Karl Lagerfeld will be debuted to the public for the very first time.
“This Fall Fashion Illustration Exhibition offers an unprecedented opportunity to showcase the evolution and application of fashion illustration and bring awareness to the art form,” said Brandon Graham, curator for the exhibition. “Through classes, films, author talks and an array of photographs and illustrations, we hope to inspire people of all ages to explore the world of fashion illustration and their own creativity.”
Featured artists include: Izak Zenou, Richard Haines, Samantha Hahn, Sara Singh, Carlos Aponte, Anja Kroencke, Marcos Chin, Autumn Whitehurst, Jennifer Lilya, Don Oehl and Elaine Pedlar.
Throughout the course of the exhibition, Utrecht Art Supplies and A.I. Friedman will offer a 10 percent discount to customers who present a valid I.D. and Brooklyn Public Library card.
For more details on Fashion Illustration: A Contemporary Look, please visit www.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/events/fashion/fashion-illustration, follow BPL on Facebook.com/BrooklynPublicLibrary or on Twitter @brooklynpublic.
Fashion Illustration: A Contemporary Look is made possible in part by Utrecht Art Supplies, A.I. Friedman, Prismacolor, the Fashion Institute of Technology – SUNY, Gladys Marcus Library Dept. of Special Collections and FIT Archives and the estate of Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos.
