Fashion / Style

What do artists wear? We head to this year’s Sydney Contemporary to find out…

Street style we loved from this year's Sydney Contemporary art fair

When Charlie Porter posed the question about what artists wear in his book of the same name, it seemed like the thread between art and fashion (both literal and figurative) had finally been stitched together.

RUSSH has always seen the linkages between art and fashion as indistinct and nebulous – fashion is simply an annex of the art form, a wearable marker of ones influences, mood and what they want to say about themselves.

Art and fashion have long shared a dynamic relationship, each influencing and shaping the other in profound ways. Fashion designers often draw inspiration from the world of art, translating brushstrokes, textures, and colour palettes into wearable masterpieces. Iconic fashion houses like Dior and Yves Saint Laurent have famously collaborated with artists or been inspired by art movements like Surrealism, Pop Art, and Impressionism.

Conversely, art embraces the fluidity and expression found in fashion, with artists using clothing as a medium to comment on culture, identity, and society. From textile artists to avant-garde designs that push the boundaries of wearability, the intersection of art and fashion is where creativity knows no limits. Both serve as mirrors to society, reflecting our values and aspirations while challenging the norms of beauty and self-expression. Together, they define contemporary culture.

But cerulean sweater analogies aside, we headed to this year's Sydney Contemporary art fair at Sydney's Carriageworks to stake out its legendary front steps (and snake our way through the gallery displays inside) in search of an answer to the question – what do artists wear? And of course, this extends to those adjacent – the thousands of gallerists, art workers, volunteers, collectors and art enthusiasts who descended upon the venue for the event's annual Art Night.

Below, photographer Kitty Callaghan shares some of the looks she lensed throughout the evening...

 

 

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