Drawing on Style 2021 celebrates rare and unseen original fashion illustration from post-war 1940s to the present day.
To coincide with London Fashion Week, Drawing on Style will showcase an extraordinary assemblage of over 85 original fashion drawings by the masters of the genre. Many of the works in the exhibition have adorned the pages of the most influential magazines and newspapers of the 20th century capturing the iconic designs of haute couture. The exhibition lineup will also include the exquisite drawings of todays contemporary masters who are powerful forces in their individual fields.
Included in the exhibition will be works by Carl Erickson (1891 - 1958), the original master of fashion illustration who initiated a new approach to documenting fashion in the early 1920s and who, by the 1930s and 40s, was the most sought-after illustrator or all. The undeniable Parisian flair of Pierre Mourgue (1890 - 1969), the divine pencil strokes of René Gruau (1909 - 2004) best known for his work with Dior and the vibrance of the New York fashion scene seen through the eyes of the great Antonio (1943 - 1987) who was the leader of the hedonistic New York fashion crowd in the 1970s and 80s. Alongside these grand masters will be the magnificent work of both Robert Melendez (1944 - ) and Steven Stipelman (1944 - ) who worked predominantly for WWD and W Magazine and the work of Gladys Perint Palmer (1947 - ) who dominated the fashion pages internationally from the 1980s to the early 2000’s.
Original works by the contemporary masters will include the expert and superbly talented work of international illustrator and celebrated portraitist David Downton (1959 - ) whose original works from his book ‘Drawing Carmen’, published to coincide with fashion icon Carmen Dell’Orefice 90th year, will be on display marking their first showcase within the exhibition, Italian fashion and lifestyle artist Andrea Ferolla (1961 - ) whose strength of line is as powerful as his subjects are charming, the powerful line drawings of multi-disciplinary artist and creative director Ali Mahdavi, the stunning works of Dior artist-in-residence Bil Donovan (1953 - ) and the inspirational work of Jason Brooks (1969 - ) best known for his remarkable imagery creating spell binding campaigns for clients across the world.
David Downton says: “It’s an honour to be included among my peers in Drawing on Style 2021, and a special thrill to be showing alongside Gruau, Eric, Bouché and Vertès, giants in the field. These extraordinary artists were pioneers of the concepts that fashion drawing could be fine art as well as a decorative one. We all owe them a debt.”
Accompanying the exhibition will be a ticketed series of Drawing on Style Talks with artists David Downton, Ali Mahdavi, Jason Brooks, Andrea Ferolla and a masterclass with Gladys Perint Palmer. Please see here to book any of the events: https://visit-cromwellplace.as.me/?appointmentType=category:Gray%20M.C.A
The exhibition will also feature an online viewing room.
Prices will range from £450 - £15,000
For media enquiries, please contact:
Priya Suman
Priya.Suman@purplepr.com
+44 (0)20 434 7069
Images:
Steven Stipelman (1944 - ) "Intensity", (1996). Gouache & Colour Pencil on Coloured Paper, signed & dated, 60 x 43.5 cm.
