Now on view at the Musée du Louvre-Lens through July 21st, The Art of Dressing: Dressing Like an Artist brings together over 200 works to explore how clothing shapes artistic identity. Curated by Annabelle Ténèze and Olivier Gabet, the exhibition examines how garments—from Rembrandt’s self-fashioned turbans to Andy Warhol’s signature striped shirts—function as both personal expression and performative tool. Set across a series of immersive rooms, the show spans Renaissance paintings, haute couture, photography, and contemporary video, offering a cross-disciplinary view of sartorial self-fashioning.
One highlight is Niki de Saint Phalle’s velvet jumpsuit, captured in a film still from Daddy (1972), revealing how the artist blurred the line between wardrobe and persona. Another standout: Yves Saint Laurent’s SS88 couture collection, which interprets the brushstrokes of Van Gogh and Braque through fabric and silhouette. A room lined with mirrors, inspired by Alexander McQueen’s 2001 Voss show, challenges visitors to reflect on their own fashion choices.
From ceremonial robes to sheer chiffon provocations, the show traces how artists and designers alike have turned clothing into statements of power, rebellion, and identity. The exhibition also collaborates with regional fashion schools, incorporating augmented reality and textile installations that extend the experience beyond the galleries. With The Art of Dressing, the Louvre-Lens invites us to consider the deeper meaning behind what we wear—and what it says about who we are.
Photography courtesy of MUSÉE DU LOUVRE-LENS