While the Museum of Design Atlanta hosts a large exhibit on 3D printing that includes everything from 3D printing on the International Space Station to creating huge structures on Earth, Atlanta’s High Museum of Art has just opened its own exhibit with a 3D printed twist. From now until May 15, 2016, the High Museum of Art will be showcasing the work of Iris van Herpen, who readers will recognize as one of the leading names in 3D printed fashion.
The exhibit, titled Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion, has been organized with the Groninger Museum to demonstrate to the public all of the fascinating works that the Dutch artist has been able to craft over the years. In her work, the designer has not only 3D printed one of a kind fashion statements, but has also incorporated such materials as magnets, umbrella ribs, and boat rigging to pull off some truly futuristic designs. Most recently, at Paris Fashion Week, her runway show even included a dress fabricated onto Game of Thrones actress Gwendoline Christie live on stage with the use of laser cutters. Christie is by no means the most famous individual to don van Herpen’s garb, however, as she’s designed for such style icons as Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Bjork. With all of this in mind, it’s no wonder that her work is being displayed in the High Museum of Art as their first fashion exhibit.
Sarah Schleuning, Curator of Decorative Arts and Design at the High, said of the artist, “Iris van Herpen’s work is an incredible fusion of artistic expression, craftsmanship and creativity. The marriage of traditional, handcrafted designs and 21st-century technology makes her work innovative, dynamic and a signifier of a bold, new future for fashion design.”
The show will display 45 pieces from 15 collections atop custom mannequins, along with text discussing her process. If you’re in Atlanta any time between now and May 16, this is something you’ll want to check out. That means you, Ethan (that’s my brother, who recently moved to Atlanta). If you need more convincing, learn more about van Herpen in the video below.
