Iris van Herpen: Sculpting the Senses at the brooklyn museum

I have admired Iris van Herpen's work for years, but seeing it in person recently at the Brooklyn Museum's Sculpting the Senses exhibition was something else entirely.

Van Herpen is best known for her innovative approach to couture. The youngest designer ever admitted to the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, she has spent her career creating surreal designs made from intricate and unexpected materials.

This exhibition was amazing.

Divided into sections based on Van Herpen's various collections and inspirations, each gallery paired her designs with works from the museum's extensive collection.

Nature is at the heart of much of her work. Living in the Dutch countryside, Van Herpen draws inspiration from the changing seasons around her, but her collections have also explored everything from coral reefs and ocean life to cellular structures, sound waves, and mitochondria.

Her commitment to sustainability runs throughout her designs, with ongoing research into new materials and more sustainable approaches to design. Van Herpen regularly collaborates with scientists, engineers, architects, and artists, exploring new technologies and innovative materials that push the boundaries of what clothing can be.

And the clothes really are beautiful.

Up close, the craftsmanship is extraordinary. Every detail feels intentional and every garment feels fully realized.

The curation of the exhibition was equally impressive. The couture garments were displayed alongside fossils, sculptures, and contemporary artwork from the museum's permanent collection, highlighting the powerful connection between art, fashion, science, and nature.

As I discussed in my post about couture, it's fashion's purest form. It is a return to the craftsmanship and tailoring that is part of every hand-made piece. It is impossible to recreate on a mass scale. It is slow, deliberate, artisanal work.

Seeing Iris van Herpen's designs in person was a powerful reminder of that.

I spent hours in this exhibit and it still wasn't enough. I genuinely didn't want it to end.