Mats Gustafson, the iconic fashion artist of the ’80s and ’90s that inspired a minimalistic movement in illustration, is introducing a swan series of wall coverings collaborating with Maharam Digital Projects on view at John McWhinnie Rare Bookstore & Art Gallery until January 23rd. The beauty of Gustafson’s work amplifies his media choice of watercolor or pastel organically expressing the forms as a fashion designer chooses their material to create the shape. The final result of atmospheric abstractions either bleeding colors or gauzy shapes suggest instead of detail emphasizing the silhouette revealing the strong negative space. Gustafson’s view is welcome change from the naive caricature style that has dominated fashion illustration in the last decade. Below is a Gustafson illustration for Yohji Yamamoto.
