Art & Fashion, the new exhibition on view at the Main Gallery of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation until June 21, brings into dialogue works from the Gulbenkian Collection with iconic haute couture creations and contemporary design.

Curated by Eloy Martínez de la Pera, Art & Fashion is part of the 70th anniversary celebrations of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and invites visitors to immerse themselves in a universe where Art and Fashion intersect and influence one another. Through a sensory and immersive experience, around 100 works from the Gulbenkian Museum are presented alongside approximately 140 fashion designs by international Designers such as Dior, Balenciaga, Yves Saint Laurent, Versace, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Guo Pei, Hubert de Givenchy and Azzedine Alaïa. Portuguese Independent Fashion is also represented by Designers including Alves/Gonçalves, Béhen, José António Tenente, Maria Gambina, Miguel Vieira, Nuno Gama and Nuno Baltazar.

Drawing on Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian’s (1869–1955) interest in Art and Fashion, the exhibition traces a journey that highlights how different periods and artistic languages intersect. Works ranging from Ancient Egypt to the 20th century are placed in dialogue with contemporary pieces, revealing the enduring presence of forms, symbols and visual references throughout history.

Through paintings, sculptures, jewellery and objects, alongside the Fashion designs that connect with them, unexpected narratives emerge, showing how aesthetics and ideas are transformed, reinterpreted and kept alive over time. More than a comparative exercise, Art & Fashion offers a reflection on the role of Fashion as a cultural expression.

HIGHLIGHT PHOTO:
Dresser, Jean Deforges, Paris, c. 1750-1755. Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
Dress, Nuno Baltazar. Portugal, 2016. MMP, EPE/Portuguese Costume Museum.
Photo: © Jon Cazenave

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