The work of Kate and Laura Mulleavy, the designer sisters behind Rodarte, are known for exquisitely beautiful work, and a recognizable, detailed aesthetic. With that in mind, one can see how they would be the perfect choice for the National Museum of Women in the Arts’ first-ever fashion exhibition. Featuring a staggering 90 complete runway looks, the show, simply titled Rodarte, covers the first 13 years of the brand.
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- (National Museum of Women in the Arts)
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- (National Museum of Women in the Arts)
“Rodarte burst onto the scene in 2005, taking the fashion and art worlds by surprise with their deeply personal and conceptual approach to fashion design,” said Jill D’Alessandro, guest curator of Rodarte, and curator in charge of costume and textile arts, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. “The exhibition celebrates the Mulleavys’ pioneering approach and explores their use of narrative to convey complex thoughts on a wide range of subjects, including film, literature, art history, nature and the California landscape.”
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- (National Museum of Women in the Arts)
“Rodarte continually prompts a dialogue between the worlds of contemporary art and fashion,” added NMWA director Susan Fisher Sterling. “This exhibition will continue that discussion with new insights, illustrating the Mulleavy sisters’ highly creative practice and sources of inspiration.”
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- (National Museum of Women in the Arts)
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- (National Museum of Women in the Arts)
Additionally, the Mulleavy sisters have teamed up with illustrator Jess Rotter on a number of exclusive items for the museum’s gift shop, including a series of paper dolls. Don’t fret if you can’t make it out to D.C. before the exhibit closes — the items will also be available online, here.
Rodarte opens November 10 at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, and runs through February 10, 2019.
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