3 minute read
The House of Dior
Where Fashion & Art Converge
Photography by James Florio, courtesy of Dallas Museum of Art
Fashionistas and art lovers, rejoice! The Dallas Museum of Art (DMA) presents Dior: From Paris to the World, a stunning collection of the legendary fashion house’s work and global influences from the past seventy years, which is on display at the museum through September 1, 2019.
The exhibit, which formerly showed at the Denver Art Museum (DAM), expanded its offerings for its Dallas debut. Select vintage looks by Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent and updated works from Maria Grazia Chiuri, Dior’s current creative director, were added, so even those who previously visited From Paris to the World will see something new in Dallas!
Maria Grazia Chiuri’s looks in the “Creative Directors” room
Along with the nearly two hundred haute couture dresses from the eras of founder Christian Dior and creative directors Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and Maria Grazia Chiuri, the show also features accessories, photographs, original sketches, runway videos, and other archival material. Guests can see the history of fashion through the eyes of one of its most influential brands as the retrospective offers a new perspective on Dior following the Paris exhibition at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs. Pieces from the esteemed Dior Héritage Collection, many of which have rarely been seen outside Europe, are on loan for the exhibit, with additional loans from major institutions.
“Splendors of the 18th Century” is complemented by Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre’s painting The Abduction of Europa.
The House of Dior has been a legendary force in fashion and visual culture for decades and continues to be an important influence that blurs the lines between fashion and art,” says Dr. Agustín Arteaga, The Eugene McDermott Director of the DMA. “Dallas has long recognized the artistic significance of Dior, most notably when in 1947, early in his career, Christian Dior traveled here to receive the Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion. We are excited to welcome this innovative, creative voice back to our city and to offer DMA audiences the opportunity to be inspired by the remarkable legacy of a global icon.”
The “Field of Flowers” section, part of Dior: From Paris to the World at the Dallas Museum of Art, juxtaposes the legendary fashion house’s looks with floral artwork by Georgia O’Keeffe and others.
“Total Look” combines Dior garments with matching accessories.
Organized by DAM and curated by DAM’s Avenir Foundation Curator of Textile Art and Fashion, Florence Müller, Dior: From Paris to the World is designed by Shohei Shigematsu, a partner at OMA and the director of the New York office. OMA, established in 2001, is a leading international partnership practicing architecture, urbanism, and cultural analysis. Sarah Schleuning, The Margot B. Perot Senior Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the DMA, curates the Dallas presentation.
“The history and impact of the House of Dior is the result of a convergence of several artistic directors who have made visionary, yet distinct, contributions to the French haute couture house,” says Schleuning. “The exhibition takes audiences through more than seven decades of innovation, bringing together the most exciting, dynamic, and pivotal pieces.”
The main exhibit, From Paris to the World, is set up in the DMA’s massive Barrel Vault.
Established in 1903, the Dallas Museum of Art is among the ten largest art museums in the country. At the heart of its programs is its global collection, which encompasses more than twenty-four thousand works and spans five thousand years of history, representing a full range of world cultures. Visit DMA.org/Dior to learn more or get your tickets for Dior: From Paris to the World and other current exhibits.
