This May, the Fondation Maeght presents its first thematic exhibition exploring the relationship between art and fashion, centred on a project curated by photographer Peter Knapp.
A close friend and longtime collaborator of André Courrèges, Knapp was among the few granted full access to the designer’s revolutionary Spring/Summer 1965 haute couture collection. At a moment when the Fondation had just opened in 1964, within a decade shaped by artistic and social upheaval, Courrèges introduced a radically new vision of fashion. He set aside conventional ideas to focus on new structures and methods of craft. Defined by miniskirts, a white palette, and architectural silhouettes, the collection reshaped the female form using principles drawn as much from architecture as from couture. Dubbed the “bombe Courrèges” by the press, it marked the emergence of a modern woman and a new way of life.
Peter Knapp captured this transformation with complete creative freedom. In ELLE’s March 1965 issue, he presented an elliptical photographic series in which models appear suspended, almost weightless within Courrèges’ designs. These images, shown here as large-scale prints, form the core of the exhibition, alongside additional photographic series, archival material, and original garments photographed by Knapp and loaned by the House of Courrèges.
The exhibition also highlights the longstanding relationship between Courrèges, Knapp, and the Fondation Maeght, conceived as a meeting place for artists across disciplines. Courrèges was closely connected to the Maeght family, particularly Paule Maeght, while Knapp developed his own ties to the Foundation over time. In 2021, he curated the exhibition “Giacometti: A Family of Creators.”
Following the recent appointment of Drew Henry as artistic director, the exhibition arrives at a moment of renewed energy for the house. It offers a historical reflection while reaffirming the ever-evolving relevance of Courrèges’ vision, captured through the lens of one of its closest collaborators.
