Being a child of the 80s, I can appreciate a fashion statement. The shorter the shorts, the more zippers to zip, and the brighter the neon the better—all get an A+ from me. Our birth is the only time we aren’t layering fabric over our bodies to impress, intimidate or disappear from each other. Start a conversation with any single person you know about the best way to express their individuality, and very few of them will mention anything other than their clothes as the number-one way to express their uniqueness. Whether for function or simply aesthetics, history proves that what we cover our naked bodies with says more than any other thing about us.
It is a short trip to connect the art world and the world of fashion. In fact, they live inside of each other and impact and influence each other and the creative minds driving both movements. The first thing we usually draw as kids is the human body (as stick people) and the next thing is our own versions of the clothes those sticks are wearing.
Recently, French Art Network’s flagship gallery, Galerie Rue Royale, celebrated fashion and art together in one show featuring French artist Marc Clauzade. The gallery’s annual New Orleans show brings the artist in from France to kick off his North American tour, showing off his most recent works and newest collections for the year. French Art Network’s relationship with Marc Clauzade goes back approximately 25 years, when the gallery partners saw something in his Toulouse–Lautrec-inspired creations. The company and its galleries have not only represented the artist exclusively in North America but have propelled Marc Clauzade’s imagery to global recognition. Marc’s connection to fashion is plainly evident from his acrylic paintings to his China ink and gouache works on carton or paper. His iconic women, female figures clad in brilliantly colored red gowns and splendidly large hats, grace environments that include energetic Parisian cafes, fabulous French gardens, and the French Rivera’s beautiful beaches. These women and his loose, whimsical style have become his calling card for collectors and fans.
This year’s collection didn’t disappoint when it came to color. Transforming the gallery into a Parisian Park in the springtime, Marc’s creations beamed amongst cherry blossom tree-lined walkways and French lamp posts. Horsehead-hitching posts accentuated Clauzade’s paintings of New Orleans, featuring his “red ladies” as the central figure as notable French Quarter buildings spring up around them.
Marc’s family history in fashion (both of his grandmothers worked in Coco Chanel’s studio) stands prominently and proudly in each creation, and in the collection as a whole. There is a celebration of life in Clauzade’s work that simply reflects celebrating the good life with good people. Smartly dressed gentlemen take notice of the artist’s elegantly dressed ladies as couples enjoy romantic dinners in front of various cafés. Other paintings reflect restaurant scenes set in the kitchen with chefs and waitstaff moving about just as they would in real life. The most interesting aspect of these is that each one could be a snapshot taken from different angles of the same moment in time. Be it outside the café, inside its kitchen, on its dining room floor, and in courtyards spread across the gardens that surround them, the feeling of people dressing up for dinner, or just dressing up, makes one feel as if giving an extra little bit of thought to our fashion choices can transform a regular or mundane moment into a remarkable moment—one to remember, and remember to savor.
Marc Clauzade’s work on paper, from charcoal sketches to colorful gouache creations, range in size from small to quite large and encompass the same subject matter and characters as his acrylic paintings. Waving from balconies along the Rivera or slipping into something “more comfortable,” Marc’s “red ladies” dominate his works on paper as well as his paintings. Colorful groups gather for what could be considered “painted selfies,” with feathers and furs mixing between painted faces and smiles.
Clauzade will continue his North American tour in July when he travels to the company’s sister gallery in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California. On Ocean Avenue, a different Parisian Park will spring to life with different paintings and images. In addition, the artist was recently commissioned by Amuse Bouche Wines to develop his second label for their forthcoming wine release. The last leg of the tour will feature Marc and his work at the winery the weekend following the Carmel show.
Perhaps the best way to experience Marc’s creations is to experience the reaction it receives when people see it for the first time. While words like “dynamic” and “exquisite” are thrown around like chips at a casino, it’s the words “fun” and “exciting” that best describe this recent collection. With the addition of paintings that capture life under the “big top” of the circus, clowns and ringmasters harken back to Clauzade’s earlier work. This small trip down memory lane is promised to be a longer journey as this collection and next year’s collection develops in the artist’s mind.
So the next time you pull on that comfy pair of sweatpants to run to Target, consider a red formal evening gown instead. While that might be a joke, it really is a state of mind. Imagining yourself at your best is really what fashion and art are all about. In our imaginations we can be anywhere, dressed in the things that make us feel invigorated and enthusiastic about life. When that moment of excitement comes over you and you feel that you can walk into any room and everyone will notice and admire you: that right there is the art of fashion.
