Thierry Mugler exhibition arrives in Brooklyn

By

Jennifer Braun

Published
Sep 9, 2022

The first retrospective exploring the fascinating, edgy universe of French designer and creator of iconic perfumes Thierry Mugler is coming to Brooklyn, November 18 through May 7, 2023. 

Dubbed 'Thierry Mugler: Couturissime', the exhibit will showcase nearly 130 outfits, most on view for the first time, alongside accessories, videos, photographs, sketches, and a special gallery dedicated to fragrances. It also features works by numerous artists and Mugler collaborators including Lillian Bassman, Guy Bourdin, David LaChapelle, Karl Lagerfeld, Sarah Moon, Pierre et Gilles, Herb Ritts, and Ellen von Unwerth.

The exhibition is organized thematically, highlighting Mugler’s interests in fantasy, glamour, science fiction, eroticism, and the natural world. It was organized by the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, and adapted for the Brooklyn Museum by Thierry-Maxime Loriot, curator of the exhibition, and Matthew Yokobosky, senior curator of fashion and material culture, Brooklyn Museum.

Since its launch in 2019, the exhibition has been seen by more than one million visitors in Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and France. It will conclude its tour in Brooklyn.

“The constant innovations, inventions, and avant-garde architectural silhouettes in the work of Mugler have marked an era,” said Loriot.

“His singular style found a place in the history of fashion that still has a powerful influence on today’s generation of couturiers, not only because of its designs, but also because of the strong message of inclusivity, diversity, and empowerment in his body of work. To present the exhibition I created with him, in the city he lived in and loved so much, is the most beautiful tribute to celebrate the man and the artist’s legacy.”

Mugler established himself as one of the most daring and innovative designers of the late twentieth century. He left his mark on the fashion scene with bold silhouettes and the use of avant-garde fabrication techniques and materials including glass, Plexiglas, PVC, faux fur, vinyl, latex, and chrome. 

Beyond the runway, he directed and designed George Michael’s music video 'Too Funky' (released in 1992) and did costume designs for Cirque du Soleil (Zumanity, 2003), and Beyoncé’s acclaimed world tour 'I Am'. 

“Building on the Brooklyn Museum’s history of celebrating the trailblazing French couturiers Jean Paul Gaultier in 2013, Pierre Cardin in 2019, and Christian Dior in 2021, we’re thrilled for our audiences to experience Thierry Mugler: Couturissime,” added Yokobosky.

“Originally a ballet dancer, Thierry Mugler was a designer who intimately understood the mechanics of the body and had extensive knowledge of materials and production. He used this expertise to create empowering visions for all people, especially women, including his archetypal super-heroine silhouettes.”