By Peru McCarra

Antonio Lopez is known for his vivid capture of fashion garments, most notably for his illustrations delineating the silhouette and design of the clothing on his models. Though his luxurious and detailed drawings have garnered much prestige and attention throughout his lifetime, mainly as part of the 1970’s Parisian fashion scene, his glamorous and unguarded point of view can be revisited at the Danziger Gallery Exhibition from today until April 28, 2018. His love for sumptuous color and lively gesture is a signature feature in both his drawings and his photography.

©Antonio Lopez, Grace Coddington April 1975

Through his camera work, the audience is invited into a world of beauty and sexual freedom. The private lives of the prominent 70’s models and celebrities alike are revealed. All the subjects gaze comfortably at the camera, as if they are more familiar in front than away from it. Famous faces such as those of supermodel and former creative director Grace Coddington, and entertainer Grace Jones open up candidly in minimal to no clothing. We are also graced with the presence of Pat Cleveland, one of the first prominent African American runway models and Jerry

Hall, famous for modeling and dating Mick Jagger. Their facial expressions are jolly, confident, and seductive, leaving us wanting more. Antonio Lopez leads his subjects to liberated gestures, having models pose with hands away from the body or exposing their busts and bare stomachs.

The unreserved visuals of the models signifies an unwavering definition of beauty and sexual revolution. There is no caution, no hesitancy in their faces, as if they have found the true purpose of fashion and photography. Specifically, the strong pictures of Grace Jones helps to punctuate a loud definition of the fashion world, a world filled with strong expressions, confident sex appeal, and strict body image. Even the men, cloaked in suits and top hats, perpetuate this god-like narrative. Their clothes are either draped perfectly, bow ties and cuff links polishing their look, or their nudity is boastfully displayed. The only hint of shyness is seen when a piece of fabric covers them, but this is only to tease the audience; they don’t hide private body parts.

If it weren’t for highly sociable, uninhibited artists like Antonio Lopez, our newer generations would forget about all the lively fashion events of the past, and previous creative accomplishments could not push our newer artists closer to perfection. More importantly, the valuable dialogue of the fashion world, with artists reacting to each other, would have no strong inspiration to cling onto. Our new artists would lack the motivation to seek more, create more, and hopefully retort more.

“Antonio Lopez” is on view at Danziger Gallery from March 8 - April 28. For more information visit www.danzigergallery.com

Apr 20 Exhibition Review: Antonio Lopez

Apr 20 Weekend Portfolio: Richard Westerhuis

Apr 19 Exhibition Review: A New Era by Doug Aitken

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