Fashion Designer Kenzo Takada Exhibits His Paintings In Paris

above: Japanese fashion designer and painter Kenzo Takada poses with three of his paintings, on the first day of the exhibition. Wednesday June 16, 2010

Designer Kenzo Takada, who founded the upscale Kenzo label, has tried his hand at painting, with a Paris exhibition titled "Un Certain Style de Vie" ( A Certain Way Of Life) which showcases his eight self-portraits.


above: Japanese fashion designer and painter Kenzo Takada poses with one of his paintings, on the first day of the exhibition:" Un Certain Style de Vie", A Certain Way of Life, Wednesday June 16, 2010

The large-scale paintings shown at the Studio 55 gallery in Paris feature the Japanese-born designer in a series of flower-printed kimonos that recall the kinds of prints his label is known for.


above: detail of one of the 8 self-portraits in the Un Certain Style de Vie exhibit at Studio 55 in Paris

"Art and fashion are really not that different," Takada told The Associated Press in an interview.

A few of the self-portraits:


Details/close-ups:



Images from the exhibit at Studio 55:




Kenzo, who was born in 1939, leapt to fame in the 1980s with a high-end ready-to-wear line that gave Western garments an eastern touch. He says he started painting 10 years ago, after he sold his label to French luxury goods giant LVMH and subsequently retired.

The exhibit runs through July 10.

STUDIO 55 (en résidence chez Pierre Cardin)
3, 5 et 9 rue de Duras - 75008 PARIS
Métro : Champs-Elysées Clémenceau

special thanks to the Associated Press for info and some images, Pure Trend for some images and Getty images.

Earlier artwork by Takada:

PSST! By the way, the press keeps spinning this as if Kenzo had not ever created art before, but only clothes. Not true at all. You can see some of the couturier's previous art works, which were auctioned off in 2008 here.