Statement Pieces

The Gibbes Museum of Art in Charleston, South Carolina, presents Statement Pieces: Contemporary Fashion Design and the Gibbes Collection, on view from January 31st to April 27th, 2025. Co-curated by Sara Arnold, the museum’s director of curatorial affairs, and Kelly Peck of Barrett Barrera Projects, the exhibition explores the intersections between fashion and fine art, pairing historic artworks with contemporary designs.

Visitors will encounter striking pairings, from an ombré Alexander McQueen gown alongside a Hokusai print to a billowing Molly Goddard dress set against a Joan Mitchell painting. The illuminated display by Barrett Barrera transforms Goddard’s piece into a luminous interplay of light and color, echoing the vibrant energy of Series: July 25 I. Its glow mirrors Mitchell’s bursts of yellow and crimson, creating a cinematic sense of movement. As curator Kelly Peck notes, “Experiencing the artwork in person in the museum space is where the objects and visual relationships really come to life.” Elsewhere, a Dapper Dan creation—celebrated for its reinvention of luxury iconography—appears alongside a Barkley Hendricks portrait, both amplifying themes of identity and cultural influence.

Another standout pairing is a sculptural red dress from COMME des GARÇONS’ Spring/Summer 2015 collection, which echoes the bulbous texture of a 2020 stoneware sculpture by Donté K. Hayes. Similarly, a gilded Gucci mini-dress finds its counterpart in an 18th-century portrait by Benjamin West, where the subject’s ocher-draped attire reflects the same opulence.

The exhibition also highlights deeper conceptual dialogues between designers and artists. Romare Bearden’s abstract painting Untitled (Green) (ca. 1950s) is paired with a structured look by Serena Gili, both artists known for their experimental techniques and personal narratives.

“The Gibbes Museum of Art is thrilled to kick off the new season by celebrating the many ways art and fashion are forever intertwined in our culture,” says Angela Mack, the President and CEO of the Gibbes Museum. “The dialogues between each artwork and garment create a striking visual courtship between the two art forms. By pairing these works from our Museum’s permanent collection with the fashions from Barrett Barrera Projects, together we are taking the phrase Statement Pieces to a whole new level,” adds Angela Mack.

Beyond aesthetic connections, Statement Pieces underscores how fashion and art have historically shaped perceptions of status, identity, and innovation. As Arnold notes, the exhibition expands the definition of fine art and invites visitors to reconsider how design influences everyday life. Presented in collaboration with Barrett Barrera Projects, Statement Pieces offers a fresh perspective on the ongoing dialogue between fashion and art.