'Rodarte: States of Matter' MOCA Opening
Photo courtesy of V Magazine
Jeffrey Deitch, Rodarte designers Laura and Kate Mulleavy, and Rebecca Morse at the MOCA exhibition preview of “Rodarte: States of Matter”
It was a packed house of local art-world guests and supporters including Lady Victoria Hervey, Maria Bell, and Mischa Barton for the official opening of the Museum of Contemporary Art’s “Rodarte: States of Matter” exhibition of original costumes designed by the Mulleavy sisters for Black Swan.
After several fetes, including a preview dinner hosted by InStyle at Mr. Chow Beverly Hills and a formal MOCA Q&A panel hosted by Jeffrey Deitch at Soho House in Los Angeles, the exhibition opened to MOCA VIP guests and board members, and, later in the evening, to the public.
It’s hard to believe the Mulleavys launched the Rodarte line only six years ago and even harder to imagine the fashion world without their rich, multilayered collections. Their use of materials, including wool, embroidered gauze, Swarovski pearls, cheesecloth, pleated silk chiffon, pleated lamé, lace, mohair, and wool fringe creates a grand sculptural effect. Not surprisingly, they are embraced wholeheartedly by the art world, including new MOCA director Deitch, who has for years meshed the worlds of art and fashion.
“My friend Maria Bell wears Rodarte, and that’s how I was introduced to them. And then a year ago last February I went to their fashion show and immediately realized they were creating art using fashion as their medium,” said Deitch as he welcomed guests at the Alexandre de Betak–designed gallery. “Their references are so different and distinct from other designers, and more like an artist’s reference.”
The 18-piece show includes several looks from the Mulleavys’ eponymous ballerina collection shown two years ago in New York as well as the costumes Natalie Portman wore in Black Swan.
“We worked and are friends with Natalie; she has worn a couple of our dresses,” said Laura. “When a friend of ours told us there was a hush-hush script floating through Hollywood about two warring ballerinas, it was suggested by her that we would be perfect to do the costumes.”
“Rodarte: States of Matter” runs through June 5 at the MOCA Pacific Design Center location in West Hollywood.