After quitting the world of fashion in 2005, Helmut Lang is back in the spotlight, but this time to showcase a different creative talent. The former designer will be showing his first solo sculpture exhibition at Sperone Westwater in New York City later this month.
Lang’s interest in art actually goes back to before he became a fashion designer. He had hoped to study art in university but fell into fashion by accident when he hired a seamstress to put together a few items he had designed for himself. Friends started asking him to make more so that they could buy them, and Lang’s fashion business was born.
Lang sold 51 percent of his business to Prada in 1999 before selling the remainder in 2004. At the time, he felt he had “done what [he] had to do” when it came to fashion. “It was successful and a great experience,” but he wanted to do more in the world of art and felt it was his last chance to make a concerted effort.
After his retirement from fashion, Lang devoted all his time to his artistic practice. After several exhibitions in Europe and the United States, he joined Sperone Westwater this year. His work is characterized by his use of materials and textures from diverse sources, often making use of recycled or repurposed materials.
The exhibition starts Jan. 8 and will run to Feb. 21 at Sperone Westwater, located at 257 Bowery, New York, NY.
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[via Sperone Westwater]
