HAUTE MESS

"Vibrant Lichtenstein-inspired dress sculpture by artist Kristin Simmons. The piece resembles a draped garment, perhaps a robe or dress, featuring a rich tapestry of abstract shapes, lips, and florals in bold colors against a muted backdrop. The thre

Haute Mess - Lichtenstein

DIMENSIONS: 40(h) x 27.5(w) x 4(d)
MEDIUM:
Mixed Media Sculpture Dress
YEAR:
2006

Vibrant Wesselman-inspired sculpture by artist Kristin Simmons. The piece resembles a robe or dress, featuring a rich tapestry of abstract shapes, lips, and florals in bold colors against a muted backdrop. The three-dimensional structure conveys the

Haute Mess - Wesselmann

DIMENSIONS: 40(h) x 27.5(w) x 4(d)
MEDIUM:
Mixed Media Sculpture Dress
YEAR:
2006

According to multiple studies, approximately 51% of all visual artists are female, but less than 5% of artists featured in the world’s most prominent museums and galleries are women. β€œHaute Mess” spoofs the stark reality that the decision to use the female form or sexuality as a theme has been pivotal to the success of myriad, iconic male artists.

Close-up of the zipper on a sculptural painted dress of a woman's face in pop art style
Closeup of a sculptural dress painted in lichtenstein style with pink, yellow, blue details and a kleenex.

During the work’s creation process, water spilled on the paper canvases, and instead of throwing them away, Simmons decided to mold them into a sculpture. The resulting forms feature appropriated, emblematic pop images that are a double-entendre on both the object, the objectified, and our obsession with cultural norms and molds of beauty in both history and art history.

Close-up of a mixed media sculpture by Kristin Simmons. The artwork features a textured pink surface with bold black and white stripes. A piece of tissue, with frayed edges, extends from the sculpture, adding depth and a tactile element to the compos
Closeup of a sculptural dress painted in lichtenstein style with pink, yellow, blue details and a kleenex.

While clothing and accessories inform our relationship with nature, the environment, and each other, they also express our identity and values in an increasingly vulnerable and fragile world. Face coverings and other artworks lend insight into our personal experiences and life journeys - not only what we learn or see, but also how we feel and what we project from within - while reminding us of societal issues that plague us at large.