4 Remarkable Instances of Life Imitating Art

Art, design, and fashion converge in moments of unexpected visual synchronicity

Vibrant floral still life painting next to a model in a flower-embroidered black suit on the runway.
Photo: LEFT: PUBLIC DOMAIN. RIGHT: Courtesy of Elie Saab

Discover how art, design, and fashion converge in moments of unexpected visual synchronicity in the slideshow below.

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4 Remarkable Instances of Life Imitating Art

LEFT: Trained in still life painting in 17th-century Amsterdam, Rachel Ruysch gained international recognition in her lifetime as one of the most prolific female artists of the Dutch Golden Age in a career that spanned six decades. The daughter of a botanist and anatomist, she created detailed depictions of lush blooms such as Flowers in a Glass Bowl (date unknown). RIGHT: Brilliant bouquets of printed flowers envelop a crepe blazer and pants as well as a silk shirt from Elie Saabu2019s fall/winter 2023u201324 ready-to-wear collection.

Photograph by LEFT: PUBLIC DOMAIN. RIGHT: Courtesy of Elie Saab

LEFT: Included in DIOR haute jewelryu2019s Les Jardins de la Couture collection, the magnificent Mini Milly Soleil Celeste necklace features a 3.88-carat, emerald-cut yellow diamond surrounded by sunbeams and stars of yellow diamonds and the houseu2019s signature lacquered Rose des Vents. RIGHT: Olive Trees (1889) by VINCENT VAN GOGH shows an autumnal landscape full of lush vegetation and warm sunlight rendered in lyrical Impressionist brushstrokes. The work, now housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is one of 15 canvases of olive trees Van Gogh painted during his time at the Saint-Paul asylum, in Saint-Ru00e9my, France.

Photograph by LEFT: Courtesy of Dior. RIGHT: Ian Dagnall Computing/Alamy

LEFT: This clutch from Giorgio Armaniu2019s fall/winter 2023u201324 collection offers a swath of blush tones against a striking kohl-colored background in a nod to the artistry of makeup.u00a0RIGHT: A pioneer in the field of human-machine collaboration, experimental artist Sougwen Chung utilized brain wave data and a multi-robotic drawing system to conjure Exquisite Corpus (2019), a dynamic performance installation that explores the relationship between human, machinic, and ecological bodies.

Photograph by RIGHT: Courtesy of Giorgio Armani. LEFT: Courtesy of the artist

LEFT: Decorated with zigzag stitches and swirls of embroidery, the Bruco seat from Paola Lentiu2019s whimsical Metamorfosi collection, designed bynFernando and Humberto Campana, mimics the unique form of a caterpillar waiting to transform into a butterfly. RIGHT:nJosh Sperling builds his minimalist-inspired artworks, such as Daydream D (2022), by bringing together multiple uniquely shaped canvases into one piece. The playful compositions, which are characterized by their bold use of color, bridge the space between painting and sculpture. n 

Photograph by LEFT: Sergio Chimenti, Courtesy of Paola Lenti. RIGHT: Farzad Owrang, Courtesy of the artist and Perrotin
Colorful floral painting next to a model in a black floral outfit walking on a runway surrounded by an audience.
Golden necklace with intricate design on left, vibrant painting of sunlit landscape and olive trees on right.
Black clutch with abstract pink pattern next to a vibrant light-based art installation in a dimly lit space.
Artistic abstract designs with soft pastel colors, featuring swirls and geometric patterns in a modern style.
Colorful floral painting next to a model in a black floral outfit walking on a runway surrounded by an audience.
Golden necklace with intricate design on left, vibrant painting of sunlit landscape and olive trees on right.
Black clutch with abstract pink pattern next to a vibrant light-based art installation in a dimly lit space.
Artistic abstract designs with soft pastel colors, featuring swirls and geometric patterns in a modern style.