At the Brooklyn Museum, Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses introduces an unusual kind of fashion encounter: a live atelier where visitors help shape a garment as the exhibition unfolds.
Inside the recreated studio, Dutch designer Iris van Herpen works with guests to pleat fabric, turning each interaction into part of the dress's evolving design. Van Herpen describes hands as a language, suggesting that every contribution leaves a visible mark on the piece's identity.
The project places craftsmanship at the center of the experience. Rather than presenting fashion only as a finished object, the installation reveals the process behind it -- from pleating to embroidery -- in an intimate setting that reflects the designer's studio practice.
During the run of the exhibition, van Herpen will return periodically to continue developing the garment and adding embroidered fragments inspired by conversations with visitors. The result is a work that grows through collaboration, memory, and design.
By blending exhibition, participation, and couture, the project points toward a future where fashion becomes more interactive, personal, and creatively shared.
