Curated exclusively for SCAD, this elegant display of Balenciaga's signature silhouettes immerses viewers in his legendary artistry.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA — The Savannah College of Art and Design presents Cristóbal Balenciaga: Master of Tailoring, an exhibition honoring the Spanish couturier at SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film in Atlanta, opening Jan. 25, 2024. The exhibition will showcase more than 30 rarely seen garments, illustrations, and photographs, with many making their U.S. debut. Curated exclusively for SCAD FASH, the exhibition features precious selections from the Balenciaga Archives dating from the late 1940s to 1968 — the golden age of the house with the couturier at the helm.
Organized in collaboration with the Fondation Azzedine Alaïa, Paris, and curator Gaël Mamine, the exhibition includes exquisitely preserved looks from the late designer Azzedine Alaïa's personal archive of more than 500 Balenciaga garments. Illustrations and photographs selected by the head of Balenciaga Heritage, and one-of-a-kind sketches and original atelier communications courtesy of Gonzalo Parodi of Parodi Costume Collection are also featured.
"Royalty comes to Atlanta as the 'King of Fashion' holds court at SCAD FASH, the crown jewel of couture higher education. Expertly curated exclusively for SCAD from the famed personal collection of Azzedine Alaïa, Cristóbal Balenciaga: Master of Tailoring showcases one of the most innovative, imaginative, and impeccable design minds of the 20th century. From daywear to eveningwear, Balenciaga's broad shoulders, dropped waistline, and impeccable fabrics will forever define elegance. As his beloved contemporary Christian Dior mused, 'Haute couture is like an orchestra, whose conductor is Balenciaga.' Experience this majestic sartorial symphony — only at SCAD FASH."
Paula Wallace | SCAD President and Founder
Born in Getaria, Spain, in 1895, the son of a seamstress, Cristóbal Balenciaga learned to sew at a very young age. Showing great talent and promise as an artist, he was soon working alongside his mother under the patronage of her clients from the Spanish nobility.
As a teenager, he earned the distinction of master tailor and moved to Madrid to pursue his craft. Through his expert skills in cutting, draping, and tailoring, he rose to prominence designing for the Spanish royal family. In 1937, Balenciaga established his couture atelier on Avenue George V in Paris, quickly becoming one of the most sought-after couturiers in the world by an elite cadre of women from high society, European royals, and Hollywood stars. Loyal clients went to great lengths to travel to the Balenciaga atelier in Paris to own a coveted custom garment created by the couturier. Revered by his contemporaries Christian Dior, Coco Chanel, Hubert de Givenchy, and Pierre Balmain, Balenciaga was one of the only couturiers of the time with the expert ability to pattern, cut, and tailor his own designs. He was also considered a fashion innovator, introducing silhouettes that were groundbreaking for the time. Balenciaga signatures including the square coat, sack dress, baby doll dress, balloon dress, and peacock tail dress secured his icon status. In 1968, at the height of his fame, Balenciaga chose to retire and shutter his eponymous house, marking the end of an era as the reigning king of Parisian couture.
"It is a real honor to work with SCAD on this new exhibition dedicated to Balenciaga through the private collection of Azzedine Alaïa, developed since 1968. Azzedine felt it was his duty and had the vision to preserve Balenciaga's couture savoir faire when he was personally called upon by Mademoiselle Renée, director of the house, to collect select fabrics and garments as the house was closed per Mr. Balenciaga's wishes. This special Balenciaga exhibition is a way to show to the public the timeless vision of the couturier admired by all, from Christian Dior to Coco Chanel."
Gaël Mamine | Head of collections at Fondation Azzedine Alaïa
Cristóbal Balenciaga: Master of Tailoring examines the couturier's experimentation with form, presenting a variety of silhouettes to highlight his mastery of tailoring and inventive approach to fashion design. Inviting guests to step back in time into Balenciaga's legendary Paris atelier, the exhibition features an elegant array of daywear and eveningwear, including exquisite gowns worn by Elizabeth Taylor and Dolores del Río. Illustrations from the couturier's own hand and atelier correspondence uniquely unveil the process of haute couture from the perspectives of both couturier and client.
"Guests to the museum will discover Balenciaga's astonishing expertise, as the works on view convey both the story of the excellence of the House of Balenciaga, a precise era in haute couture at the beginning of the 20th century, and the couturier's perfected juxtaposition of modernity and timelessness."
Gaspard de Massé | Head of Balenciaga Heritage
On the occasion of the exhibition opening, SCAD FASH will host a VIP reception for museum members featuring a conversation with the curators on Balenciaga's tremendous influence on fashion history and his enduring legacy. Students from many of the university's top-ranked degree programs — including fashion, accessory design, art history, luxury and brand management, photography, and illustration — will have the opportunity to interact with the curators through special programming including gallery tours and talks.
"It is an honor to bring the work of Cristóbal Balenciaga — one of the greatest couturiers who has held supreme influence over generations of designers — to SCAD FASH. This exhibition presents Balenciaga's unmatched artistic mastery and is an exclusive opportunity for our students and museum guests to marvel at his genius and his everlasting mark on fashion history."
Rafael Gomes | Creative director of SCAD FASH museums
Cristóbal Balenciaga: Master of Tailoring is on view at SCAD FASH, Jan. 25–June 2, 2024.
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About the Designer
Born the son of a seamstress and fisherman on Spain's Basque coast, Cristóbal Balenciaga was immersed in fashion from an early age. Observing his mother create pieces for the Spanish aristocracy, who vacationed in his hometown of Getaria, Balenciaga cultivated his own natural artisanal sensibilities as he watched his mother work. Taken under the patronage of his mother's client, the Marquesa de Casa Torres, Balenciaga began formal training as a tailor at the tender age of 12. Emboldened by this expertise in tailoring, he began his professional career with a solid foundation that evolved from his beginnings in Spain to his final headquarters at 10 Avenue George V in Paris.
Equipped with confidence in his talent, a love of the past, and pride in his Spanish heritage, Balenciaga sculpted a second skin for his clients, who watched with rapt attention as his innovative designs paraded through the salon during his twice-yearly collection debuts. From Balenciaga's needle and thread, iconic silhouettes like the sack dress, baby doll dress, square jacket, egg-shaped coat, and high-low hemline bloomed to life. He was considered a genius of his craft and admired by designers of his time, including Hubert de Givenchy, Coco Chanel, and Pierre Balmain.
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film
SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion + Film celebrates fashion as a universal language, garments as important conduits of identity, and film as an immersive and memorable medium. Situated within SCAD Atlanta, the museum presents dynamic exhibitions, captivating films, and enticing events that mine the rich and storied legacies of fashion history to inspire contemporary designers and future innovations. Supported by the university's strong global presence and connections to renowned contemporary fashion designers, filmmakers, and creative professionals around the world, SCAD FASH is an integral part of the SCAD educational experience.
Like the award-winning SCAD Museum of Art, SCAD FASH serves as a creative resource for students of all ages and a wellspring of inspiration for visitors. Through programming that engages the university's broad array of academic disciplines, SCAD FASH offers diverse exhibitions, films, installations, performances, and events to enliven and inspire the greater community year-round. Each program is designed to engage and appeal to visitors with varied backgrounds and interests, from textiles and jewelry to photography and film. Past exhibitions have featured the work of designers Christian Siriano, Robert Wun, Ruth E. Carter, Azzedine Alaïa, Pierre Cardin, Carolina Herrera, Mary Katrantzou, Guo Pei, and Oscar de la Renta. Photographic exhibitions have featured the work of Robert Fairer, Albert Watson, Jonathan Becker, Bill Cunningham, and Omar Victor Diop. Exhibitions are accompanied by curated film series that complement programming. Past SCAD commissioned films include Pierre Cardin: Le Futur, The First Monday in May, Funny Face, The Leopard, and Ovation for Oscar, among others.
SCAD: The University for Creative Careers
SCAD is a private, nonprofit, accredited university, offering 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs across locations in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls more than 17,500 undergraduate and graduate students from more than 120 countries. The future-minded SCAD curriculum engages professional-level technology and myriad advanced learning resources, affording students opportunities for internships, professional certifications, and real-world assignments with corporate partners through SCADpro, the university's renowned research lab and prototype generator. SCAD also has earned top rankings for degree programs in interior design, architecture, film, fashion, digital media, and more. Career success is woven into every fiber of the university, resulting in a superior alumni employment rate. According to a recent study, 99% of SCAD graduates were employed, pursuing further education, or both within 10 months of graduation. SCAD provides students and alumni with ongoing career support through personal coaching, alumni programs, a professional presentation studio, and more. Visit scad.edu.