The Brooklyn Museum opens "Iris Van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses," a mid-career retrospective of the Dutch fashion designer known for pioneering 3D-printed garments. The exhibition, which originated at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris in 2023, features over a decade of van Herpen's work, including her first 3D-printed garment from 2010, pieces worn by celebrities like Lady Gaga, Björk, and Beyoncé, and new works such as an algae dress grown from 125 million living organisms. Organized by senior curator Matthew Yokobosky, the show spans eleven themes exploring van Herpen's fusion of traditional craftsmanship with technology, science, and nature.
The exhibition matters because it positions van Herpen as a transformative figure who expanded fashion's boundaries by integrating advanced technologies like 3D printing and biodesign with haute couture. By contextualizing her work alongside scientific artifacts and natural history specimens from the museum's collections, the show challenges conventional distinctions between fashion, art, and science. It also highlights how contemporary designers are increasingly collaborating with architects, bioengineers, and researchers, signaling a broader shift toward interdisciplinary practice in the visual arts and fashion worlds.