Reclining Dress Impression

Influenced by ancient marble sculptures, contemporary and historical clothing, and the early-twentieth-century French fashion designs of Madame Grès (1903-1993), Karen LaMonte's dresses are firmly rooted in Western art-historical traditions. Her cast-glass work features drapery, with its dramatic folds and delicate trimmings, in ways that accentuate sensuality, convey status, and dictate morality. LaMonte explores the question: are we defined by our clothing or does our clothing define us? The rules of fashion are tied to perceptions of gender and class, and often obscure the identity of the individual. LaMonte's carefully crafted translucent dresses illuminate this fragile space between our public and private selves.