Judy Chicago has collaborated with the international fashion house, Dior, on two separate projects: the set design for their Spring-Summer 2020 Haute Couture show, at the invitation of Creative Director of women’s collections, Maria Grazia-Chiuri, and later that year created designs for a series of Lady Dior purses.
Visitors of the couture show entered Chicago’s 250 foot long goddess, The Female Divine, built on site in the garden of the Museé Rodin in Paris. The structure’s interior floor was covered by a regal mille fleur design taken directly from the drawing for the Eleanor of Aquitane runner from The Dinner Party. This symbolic catwalk was lined by two sets of hanging banners with appliquéd and hand embroidered questions, one side in English, the other in French, that considered how society might be different if women were humankind’s political and spiritual leaders. This series of profound questions led to a massive banner, measuring 17 by 12 feet, asking the ultimate question “What if Women Ruled the World?”
Chicago collaborated with Dior a second time for the fifth edition of the Dior Lady Art project to customize a limited edition run of handbags. She adapted three paintings, Let It All Hang Out, Queen Victoria, and Christine of Sweden, to create bags of three different sizes. Placing the titles of these works on the bottom of the purses serves as another unique avenue to teach women’s history.
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View of the Goddess structure: the site of Dior's Spring/Summer haute couture show. Photo courtesy of Dior
View of the Goddess structure: the site of Dior's Spring/Summer haute couture show. Photo courtesy of Dior
View of the Goddess structure: the site of Dior's Spring/Summer haute couture show. Photo by Adrien Dirand
View of the Goddess structure: the site of Dior's Spring/Summer haute couture show. Photo by Kristen Pelou
Installation view inside The Female Divine goddess structure. Photo © Donald Woodman/ARS, NY
Installation view inside The Female Divine goddess structure. Photo courtesy of Dior.
Installation view of the English Banners, Dior Haute Couture show during Paris Fashion Week Spring Summer 2020. Photo ©Kristen Pelou
Installation view of the French Banners, Dior Haute Couture show during Paris Fashion Week Spring Summer 2020. Photo ©Kristen Pelou
What if Women Ruled the World? banner installed in the Goddess structure forThe Female Divine. Photo courtesy of Dior.
Dior Spring-Summer 2020 Haute Couture show inside The Female Divine. Photo courtesy of Dior.
Dior Spring-Summer 2020 Haute Couture show inside The Female Divine. Photo courtesy of Dior.
Judy Chicago, What if Women Ruled the World?, 2020, Embroidery and brocade on Velvet backed fabric, Executed by the Chanakya School of Craft, Mumbai, India, 204 x 144 x 0.5 in. (518.16 x 365.76 x 1.27 cm),Collection of Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation. © Judy Chicago/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo © Donald Woodman/ARS, NY
Judy Chicago, Banner #1 English: Would God Be Female?, 2020, Appliqué, embroidery, brocade, and braiding on velvet backing, Executed by the Chanakya School of Craft, Mumbai, India, 120 x 73.75 x 0.5 in. (304.8 x 187.32 x 1.27 cm), Collection of Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation. © Judy Chicago/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo © Donald Woodman/ARS, NY
Judy Chicago, Banner #2 English: Would Men and Women Be Equal?, 2020, Appliqué, embroidery, brocade, and braiding on velvet backing, Executed by the Chanakya School of Craft, Mumbai, India, 120 x 73.75 x 0.5 in. (304.8 x 187.32 x 1.27 cm), Collection of Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation. © Judy Chicago/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo © Donald Woodman/ARS, NY
Judy Chicago, Banner #6 English: Would Old Women Be Revered?, 2020, Appliqué, embroidery, brocade, and braiding on velvet backing, Executed by the Chanakya School of Craft, Mumbai, India, 120 x 73.75 x 0.5 in. (304.8 x 187.32 x 1.27 cm), Collection of Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation. © Judy Chicago/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo © Donald Woodman/ARS, NY
Judy Chicago, Banner #8 English: Would There Be Private Property?, 2020, Appliqué, embroidery, brocade, and braiding on velvet backing, Executed by the Chanakya School of Craft, Mumbai, India, 120 x 73.75 x 0.5 in. (304.8 x 187.32 x 1.27 cm), Collection of Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation. © Judy Chicago/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo © Donald Woodman/ARS, NY
Judy Chicago, Banner #10 English: Would the Earth Be Protected?, 2020, Appliqué, embroidery, brocade, and braiding on velvet backing, Executed by the Chanakya School of Craft, Mumbai, India, 120 x 73.75 x 0.5 in. (304.8 x 187.32 x 1.27 cm), Collection of Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation. © Judy Chicago/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York; Photo © Donald Woodman/ARS, NY
