"Dalí & Schiaparelli" exhibition opens in Florida

By

Cassidy Mantor

Published
Oct 20, 2017

The Dalí Museum in St. Petersburg, FL has opened a new exhibition celebrating the fashion and art masterpieces of Salvador Dalí and Elsa Schiaparelli, in the first exhibition exploring their creative relationship.

Known for shocking both the fashion and art world, the themes of sensuality and beauty Dalí and Schiaparelli's collaborations are highlighted in the "Dalí & Schiaparelli" exhibition, which features Haute Couture gowns; accessories; jewelry; paintings; objects; drawings and photos.

The exhibit also invites visitors to view new designs by current Maison Schiaparelli design director Bertrant Guyon.

Dr. Hank Hine, Dalí Museum Executive Director and curator of the exhibition said, “Dalí & Schiaparelli provides a look into their friendship and partnership – one of the first and most innovative in art and fashion." Hine said the exhibit conveys the "kindred spirits and individual styles" of the duo as well as their joint collaborations.

Elsa Schiaparelli's fashion designs emerged as a driving force in between the two World Wars. She became known for exploring Surrealistic themes in her pieces and drew inspiration from artists of the movement, particularly Dalí. Celebrities including Mae West and Marlene Dietrich were some of her greatest fans as well as The Duchess of Windsor and heiress Millicent Rogers.

For his part, Dalí is the most widely known and most prolific Surrealist artist. He also drew inspiration from celebrity, politics, religion and science as he pushed the boundaries of imagination in his precisely executed paintings.

Schiaparelli and Dalí frequently collaborated throughout their careers to create works that will "captivate and seduce" guests, according to Hine.

The exhibition is currently open and runs through January 14, 2018. It has been coordinated by The Dalí, St. Petersburg, FL in collaboration with Schiaparelli Paris. It includes loans from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum as well as private collections.