Wear Have all The Art Collectors Gone?

The concept of wearable art is not a new age idea. Ever since pop artist like Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring emerged in the art world the idea of one expressing one's self through wearable art has always been a vehicle for artist & art lovers to participate in. The basis of fashion is to provide a medium that allows designers the opportunity to display their true artistry on a consumers individual canvas. Everyday we make a decision to select a product an artist has created to put on our bodies, in this regard we are all art collectors. No matter if you are a collector(consumer) of a canvas bag featuring a reproduction by Andy warhol, a tee shirt actually hand painted by Basquiat or a Tracy Reese one shoulder Kimono dress, from couture to mass production we all collectors in our own right.

Fine Fashion Finds-Wearable Art

vintage hand-painted shirt by unknown Artist

  

In the last two decades both Fine and pop artist have been able to find a life and for some a resurrection with new audiences in wearable art. As an art collector I find it very gratifying to be able to combine both my two passions of purchasing fine art & Fashion. 

Vintage/Thrift shopping is a great way to find a lot of really great items by unknown artist as well as reproductions of artist that are more commercially known. Art collector's can purchase shirt's,tee's,jean's etc..that  unknown or up & coming artist have created often at lower price points then say their canvas or printed works.

Mixed Media - Artist Un-known

Noted fashion designers such as Tommy Hilfiger

have put out collections featuring the work of pop artist,such as his 2009 collection of shoes featuring original Keith Haring art. 

Blue and White Tommy Hilfiger- Keith Haring Sneaker 2009

Some artist have taken it upon themselves to create wearable art such as famed fine artist Larry "Poncho" Brown who has created a line of unisex ponchos showcasing his uniquely expressive, elaborately ethnic & cultural art. Poncho's "Art-wear Catalog" allows art collectors the opportunity to take their favorite artist & pieces everywhere they go. 

www.larryponchobrown.com/poncho.htm

Originally written for ContrastMag