“Fashion Frieze with Ancestral Chorus of Women in Design, Craft, and Art History” by Michael Sylvan Robinson (2024)

Commission for Michele Cohen, Museum of Art and Design Board Chair, for the 2024 GALA.

Inspired by the Museum of Arts and Design exhibition of “Barbie: A Cultural Icon” and the research of Katy Hessel’s The Story of Art Without Men, this wearable art / fashion art garment explores the history of art as if the entire canon was created by women artists. Rooted in the legacy of feminist artists like Nancy Spero and Mary Beth Edelman, this work began with the creation of an original textile print in the style of Spero’s repeated frieze motifs. Stylized figures of the women artists and designers were embellished, embroidered, and attached as appliques that circle the lower edges of the garment and across the cape panel. This garment celebrates women artists throughout history with a focus on design and craft artists, representing them with both images and names. Featured artist portraits include Harriet Powers (1837-1910), Sonia Delaunay (1885-1979), Aileen Osborn Webb (1892-1978), Ruth Handler (1916-2002), Nancy Spero (1926-2009), Louise Bourgeois (1910-2010), Toshiko Takaezu (1922-2011), Ruth Asawa (1926-2013), Miriam Schapiro (1923-2015), Aminah Robinson (1940-2015), Faith Ringgold (1930-2024)