A Gothic homage to late fashion icon | reviews, news & interviews
A Gothic homage to late fashion icon
A Gothic homage to late fashion icon
Thursday, 23 September 2010
The portrait brings out the 'gothic quality' in Isabella Blow's personality, say the artistsPhoto: Andy Keate
A grisly "shadow portrait" of the late fashion muse and stylist Isabella Blow goes on show today at the National Portrait Gallery. Crafted from taxidermied animals, including a raven, a species of rat linked to the black death and a snake, as well as Blow’s trademark bright lipstick and a heel from one of her Manolo Blahnik shoes, the portrait shows the sitter’s head on a stake.
A grisly "shadow portrait" of the late fashion muse and stylist Isabella Blow goes on show today at the National Portrait Gallery. Crafted from taxidermied animals, including a raven, a species of rat linked to the black death and a snake, as well as Blow’s trademark bright lipstick and a heel from one of her Manolo Blahnik shoes, the portrait shows the sitter’s head on a stake.
The future of Arts Journalism
You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!
We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £49,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d
And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.
Subscribe to theartsdesk.com
Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.
To take a subscription now simply click here.
And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?
more
'We are bowled over!' Thank you for your messages of love and support
Much-appreciated words of commendation from readers and the cultural community
Music Reissues Weekly: Motörhead - The Manticore Tapes
Snapshot of Lemmy and co in August 1976 proves fascinating
Classical CDs: Bells, birdsong and braggadocio
British contemporary music, percussive piano concertos and a talented baritone sings Mozart
Kiefer / Van Gogh, Royal Academy review - a pairing of opposites
Small scale intensity meets large scale melodrama
Album: Barry Can't Swim - Loner
Dive in to some sizzling summer dance music
Siglo de Oro, Wigmore Hall review - electronic Lamentations and Trojan tragedy
Committed and intense performance of a newly-commissioned oratorio
Hot Milk review - a mother of a problem
Emma Mackey shines as a daughter drawn to the deep end of a family trauma
Jenny Saville: The Anatomy of Painting, National Portrait Gallery review - a protégé losing her way
A brilliant painter in search of a worthwhile subject
Tom Raworth: Cancer review - truthfulness
A 'lost' book reconfirms Raworth’s legacy as one of the great lyric poets
Glastonbury Festival 2025: Five Somerset summer days of music, controversy and beautiful mayhem
The full, brain-frazzling, immersive deep dive into Worthy Farm's music and arts spectacular
Album: Kesha - .
After a decade of tribulation, a new beginning matches stadium heft to club-pop bounce
Hill, Sky Documentaries review - how Damon Hill battled his demons
Alex Holmes's film is both documentary and psychological portrait
Add comment