Lacroix’s passion for folklore, art and costume history is revealed in this exclusive ensemble exhibition for Peer Gynt. Ibsen’s fantastic characters are artfully reimagined in garments that reflect the designer’s authentic flair, combining the principles of haute couture with the technical precision of stage costumes. Lacroix’s long collaboration with the Comédie-Française began more than 25 years ago with the production of Phèdre by the famous theatre company, followed by productions by Cyrano, Lucrèce, Roméo et Juliette, and Peer Gynt, among many others. Originally from Arles, Provence, Lacroix was fascinated from an early age by theatre, constantly creating creations for his own whimsical characters. His passion for world cultures led him to study art history in Paris, where he trained in institutions such as the Sorbonne and the Ecole du Louvre. After perfecting his art in various fashion houses, assisting Guy Paulin and drawing for Jean Patou, Lacroix created his own eponymous house in the mid-1980s. Bold and luxurious collections, full of colors, patterns and rich ornaments will become the signature of his work, exuding a sense of cheerfulness and decadence. In the decades that followed, Lacroix received critical acclaim for his creations, including such illustrious venues and performance companies as the Comédie-Française, the Opéra Garnier, the American Ballet Theater and the Metropolitan Opera. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SCAD FASH LACOSTE PRESENTS DRESSES PEER GYNT FOR THE COMÉDIE-FRANÇAISE “Christian Lacroix’s work is immense because of all the couturiers of his time and the past, he is the only one to have complied with a discipline, to imagine theatre costumes according to his haute couture know-how. His own vision of haute couture is not without compromise. It accepts all the hierarchies, the unfinished and the excellence that can be found in the flowery fields. The costumes designed by Lacroix for the Comédie-Française for Peer Gynt testify to this freedom of haute couture: their beauty is admired because it is in motion.” The exhibition also marks the inauguration of the new space of the museum, the former Galerie Centre, owned by the couturier Pierre Cardin, a long-time resident of Lacoste and cultural ambassador of the region. Cardin has maintained a valuable friendship with the SCAD and, for more than two decades, he has served as a mentor, engaging with hundreds of SCAD students who were studying at Lacoste in all university programs, from fashion to architecture. In this spirit of shared dedication to the region, SCAD is committed to protecting Cardin’s legacy and continuing to inspire young artists and visitors to the museum’s new premises. “This is a remarkable opportunity to present the work of Christian Lacroix, a local child, at SCAD FASH Lacoste. Lacroix’s contributions to fashion know no bounds, and his work in the theatre world should also be celebrated for its elegance. Lacroix’s long and special collaboration with the Comédie-Française is important to welcome, as both institutions are bastions of French culture, and we are delighted to present Lacroix’s imaginative creations for Peer Gynt to our students and visitors this summer.” On the occasion of the opening of the exhibition, SCAD FASH Lacoste and Paula Wallace, President and Founder of SCAD, will organize an intimate reception in honor of the creator, in the presence of Saillard, representatives of the Comédie-Latin AmericanFrench and special guests from the region. SCAD students, from a wide range of high-level degree programs such as fashion, art history, film and television, production design and illustration, will have the exclusive opportunity to meet the curator and collaborators as part of special commitments and programs. Christian Lacroix Habille Peer Gynt for the Comédie-Française is exhibited at the SCAD FASH Lacoste museum, from July 1 to November 1, 2023. For more information, please visit scadfash.org. ABOUT THE ARTIST The depth with which Christian Lacroix approaches folklore, art and fashion, combined with his slow irreverence, crystallizes in the glamorous signature that makes the reputation of his creations. Born in Arles, France, Christian Lacroix had an early interest in art and world cultures. His passion for drawing and history led him to study art history in Paris, where he trained in institutions such as the Sorbonne and the Ecole du Louvre. During his studies, he began working as a trader for fashion houses before becoming Guy Paulin’s assistant. After working for Jean Patou, Christian Lacroix created his own eponymous house in the mid-1980s. Her collections burst onto the fashion scene with a sense of cheerfulness, decadence and fun that will become the prerogative of her work. After a career of several decades, the designer sold the house in 2009 to realize his dreams as a museum curator and designer. Combining global inspiration and the past, Christian Lacroix has marked the history of fashion with his opulent theatrical creations.