It has opened on May 6th at the Fashion and Textile Museum of London the exhibition “Missoni Art Colour”, that explores the influence of 20th century European art on the fashion and textile designs of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni, the founder of the worldwide known fashion brand Missoni. Organised by the MA*GA Art Museum in collaboration with Missoni and The Woolmark Company, the exhibition celebrates a family firm that has become an international success by combining craft expertise, materials and the latest design trends. Merino wool is featured in many of the garments on display, showcasing the heritage and cultural history of the Missoni family’s association with wool. The exhibition, that will close on September 4th, includes over 40 paintings by 20th century European artists, including Gino Severini, Lucio Fontana and Sonia Delaunay who have influenced the creative process of the Missoni family. The works of art on display are drawn from the MA*GA Museum of Varese and from private collections in Italy and many have never been previously shown in the UK. The exhibition showcases over 60 years of fashion alongside the works of art as well as previously unseen textile studies, paintings and patchworks of knitted fabrics, ‘Arazzi’, by Ottavio Missoni. The selection of fashion looks, designed by Angela Missoni since 1997, is drawn from the company’s archive starting in 1953 to the present day. The exhibition is curated by Luciano Caramel, art critic and historian who served as commissioner of the Venice Biennale and the Rome Quadriennale; Luca Missoni, Artistic Director of the Missoni Archive; Emma Zanella, Director of MA*GA Art Museum and contemporary art historian and museologist.
