KEEP IT GUCCI: THE ART OF SILK
90 x 90: 9 ARTISTS APPROACH 5 ICONIC GUCCI SCARF THEMES
‘Approaching a fashion archive is, first and foremost, a tireless exercise in observation and interpretation. In the case of a scarf archive, it's also like opening a storybook…’
GUCCI: The Art of Silk
The 90 x 90 project reflects the measurements of the classic silk twill scarf (90cm x 90cm) while evoking Gucci’s history and using the silk scarf as an artistic medium. The House tasked nine artists with approaching five key Gucci scarf themes that have recurred throughout its history: Flora, fauna, nautical, equestrian, and GG Monogram.
With startlingly individual viewpoints and approaches, the artists Robert Barry, Everett Glenn, Sara Leghissa, Currynew, Jonny Niesche, Gio Pastori, Walter Petrone, Yu Cai, and Inji Seo are at times, wry, witty, emotional and beautiful in their interpretations – at once reflecting the House and themselves.
The full project will also feature in the new book, GUCCI: The Art of Silk: The Story of Gucci Scarves. In the final chapter, 90 x 90 appears as the current culmination of a storied history of silk scarves at the House. Blurring the lines between pop, fine art and fashion the scarves of 90 x 90 become mini-masterpieces in their own right.
‘In the scarves, each character comes to life, from the central lily of Flora to the animals of the savannah, metamorphosing into sci-fi monochromatic gels or compelling characters from an adventure comic, interpretations that strengthen the symbols of the House, animate them and launch them towards new perspectives, interpretations and uses for the future.’ GUCCI: The Art of Silk
About the Artists
ROBERT BARRY
Robert Barry is an American artist widely regarded as one of the pioneers and most representative figures of the conceptual art movement. From the mid-1960s, his work explored the immaterial and ephemeral, using media such as radio waves, telepathy, and performance to challenge traditional perceptions of art. In the 1970s, he shifted his focus to language, employing words as a medium to evoke narratives and inspire contemplation. Whether painted, projected, or carved, Barry’s works emphasize the interplay between words and the surrounding spaces, inviting viewers to engage in open-ended interpretations. His work is held in majorinstitutions such as MoMA, the Guggenheim, and the Centre Pompidou, and has been featured in landmark exhibitions like When Attitudes Become Form and Documenta V, cementing his enduring influence on contemporary art.
EVERETT GLENN
Everett Glenn is an American multidisciplinary artist whose work blends comics, painting, and performance to craft deeply personal narratives. Influenced by Franco-Belgian ligne claire comics and other artists, Glenn weaves action-packed visuals with introspective storytelling. His diaries-turned-graphic novels mask personal experiences within dynamic scenes, creating a dialogue between vulnerability and resilience. Glenn’s creative journey spans underground New York comics, mentorship in Leipzig, and teaching stints at Princeton University and Hochschule Hannover. His evolving practice interrogates identity, memory, and the power of storytelling, offering a vivid lens on the human experience.
SARA LEGHISSA
Sara Leghissa is an independent artist based in Italy, whose work spans performance, creation, and curation. Their practice unfolds primarily in public spaces, exploring power dynamics and creating systems that blend with their surroundings to engage diverse audiences. Drawing on an “ecology of resources,” Leghissa uses what is already available in outdoor contexts to convey images and ideas through accessible, ordinary technologies. Inspired by the concept of subversion as a means to disrupt and reshape norms, their work fosters collective experiences rooted in care, mutualism, and self-determination. Co-founder of the Strasse collective, they merge cinema and site-specific performance to question and deepen our connection to reality. Leghissa's work has been presented internationally, from the Santarcangelo Festival and Triennale Milano to La Casa Encendida and Maltabiennale.art.
CURRYNEW
Currynew is a Shanghai-based illustrator, graphic designer, and advertising professional whose vibrant works merge pop culture, music, and video games with introspective imagination. His art visualizes subjective worlds, exploring how personal emotions interact with external realities. Known for his dynamic digital creations, Currynew’s portfolio spans award-winning works, including the Hiii Illustration award (2020 &2021), and exhibitions like GUCCI COSMOS in Shanghai and The Shanghairen series. Blending his advertising expertise with a passion for storytelling, Currynew crafts visuals that bridge the personal and the universal, offering fresh perspectives on contemporary culture.
JONNY NIESCHE
Jonny Niesche is an Australian artist whose works draw on the traditions of romanticism, abstraction, and minimalism to explore our perception of light and space. His works create glowing atmospheres that nod to abstract expressionism, embracing a polished aesthetic inspired by cosmetic counters and custom-car paint effects. Through his use of surface, color, and architecture, Niesche imbues these vibrant abstractions with a sense of iconic religiosity. Niesche has exhibited extensively, and his work is held in major collections including the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, the National Gallery of Victoria, the Museum of New and Old Art in Hobart, and prominent private collections across Europe, the USA, and Asia.
GIO PASTORI
Gio Pastori is a Milan-based illustrator renowned for his signature paper-cut technique, creating visually striking compositions with a strong formal and chromatic synthesis by carving or tearing solid-colored paper without preliminary sketches. His work spans fashion, music, publishing, and scenography, showcasing his distinctive ability to translate diverse concepts into clean, impactful imagery. Pastori’s approach to illustration emphasizes simplicity and vibrancy, positioning him as a versatile and dynamic creative force.
WALTER PETRONE
Walter Petrone, known artistically as Wallie, is an Italian illustrator, animator, and graphic novelist whose vivid storytelling blends personal reflection with dynamic visuals. A graduate of the Fine Arts Academy in Naples, Petrone has collaborated with various musicians, illustrating posters and album covers for artists such as Lo Stato Sociale, Casadilego, and Giancane. His animation work includes the music video for Caparezza’s Campione dei Novanta and scenes from Rossella De Venuto’s documentary Pattini e Acciaio. As a graphic novelist, he has published Croce sul cuore, Uova di lucertola, and Doppelgänger with Feltrinelli, exploringthemes of identity, resilience, and imagination. Petrone’s multidisciplinary approach bridges the worlds of music, animation, and literature, crafting deeply resonant narratives.
YU CAI
Yu Cai is a Chinese illustrator and animator based in Italy, creating works that explore contemporary urban existence through vibrant, imaginative creations. Blending traditional techniques with digital innovation, her art reimagines the modern landscape, offering alternative perspectives on how environments are inhabited and experienced. Active in the NFT space, her projects challenge conventional narratives, inviting viewers to discover new dimensions of living and reconsider their connection to the urban world. Her work has been showcased in international exhibitions and featured in prominent publications, demonstrating a unique approachthat bridges traditional artistry with modern mediums.
INJI SEO
Inji Seo is a Seoul-based artist who explores the intersection of pop culture and art through animation and illustration. Known for her bold colors, dynamic compositions, and witty storytelling, Seo has collaborated with K-pop artists EXO, NCT Dream, and Red Velvet, as well as global musicians Peggy Gou and Rina Sawayama. Her work spans album covers, music video visuals, and campaigns for brands like Apple, Samsung, and Nike, blending artistic vision with commercial storytelling. A graduate of Hongik University in Animation, to Seo, art is more than a medium—it’s a way to translate moments of inspiration and certainty into narratives that resonate deeply. Her work invites viewers to explore her imaginative world, where tradition and modernity converge. Featured in exhibitions at venues such as the Busan Museum of Art, D Museum, and Lotte Gallery, Seo’s art captivates audiences with its accessibility and depth, continuing to redefine contemporary boundaries.
High res pictures can be downloaded here.
Theo Bakana
