The initiative proposed last April between Sotheby's and the fashion affiliate is very interesting Margherita Maccapani Missoni who manually selected works for “Contemporary Curated”, for an online sale of contemporary art. A collaboration that introduces a new way of presenting itself to the increasingly eclectic collector looking for "contaminations" of art. In this case “Art and Fashion”.
Originally from a family whose last name has become synonymous with colorful zig-zag and space-dyed knits, Margherita recently took on the role of creative director of “M Missoni”, a younger branch of her family's famous fashion house. “Reuse”, “remix” and “respect” are the cornerstones of Missoni.
Old ads have been pillaged for apparel prints, traditional logos and archival prints have been re-written in a contemporary key, and the label's tried and trusted patchwork is reinvented in new prints. Applauded for embracing a sustainable heritage, instincts on the wrist and a playful and experiential approach, Margherita is at the forefront of the fashion world, her influence extending across the globe.
For the eighth edition of the “Contemporary Curated” series in London, Margherita has carefully crafted a compelling selection of artworks, bringing to light a lesser-known aspect of the designer's distinct creative vision. Featured artists include Eddie Martinez, Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, Tim Noble & Sue Webster, Alighiero Boetti, Yoshitomo Nara, George Condo, Victor Vasarely, Katherina Grosse, Fahrelnissa Zeid and many more.
A cacophony of colour, Margherita's work is free, irreverent and playful – factors which have influenced her collecting and which will be reflected in the curation of this sale. Admitting that the Missonis are “a family of hoarders,” everything the designer collects is infused with personal resonance, evoking memories and concepts she longs to be remembered. Margherita inherited her collector gene from her mother Angela, the creative director of Missoni, and her grandmother, 88, Rosita, who founded and ran the family brand with her husband Ottavio until 1997. It was with these inspiring women that Margherita he cleaned flea markets in Europe as a child and continues to do so, breathing new life into old treasures.
Margherita Maccapani Missoni was born in 1983, spending her childhood in the Italian countryside and in Milan during the weekends. After graduating, Margherita studied philosophy at Columbia University in New York. She continued to study theater and starred in Jean Genet's stage production The Maids. The granddaughter of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni, who founded her family's fashion house in 1953, Margherita had previously worked as an ambassador for the house, muse to her mother Angela Missoni's longtime creative director, and acted as the face of the brand . In 2010, Margherita became the director of accessories for Missoni, before a hiatus in which she designed her own line of children's clothing before taking on the brand's youngest line, M Missoni.
