Tanya Taylor NYFW

The botanical sculptures for Tanya’s NY fashion week presentation were made in harmony with her new collection. We wanted to create an abstracted landscape - a sculptural jungle that merges the colors, silhouettes, and stunning hand-painted patterns in her work with a magical realism embodied in nature that is the hallmark of my work. Fresh-cut painted leaves sprouting from wild cutouts started to grow through our imaginations. As we conceptualized these sculptures together, we spoke of the vivid intersection of color, geometry, and nature in Miami and we wanted to bring that experience to life on the runway. The 75ft runway design aimed to generate as little waste a possible. All the painted botanicals were donated to an incredible organization called Repeat Roses that repurposes floral materials to schools and hospitals after large events. Zero floral foam, water tubes, or tape were used. About 10 zip ties, 2 ft of wire, and a few screws kept everything standing. Along with custom metal fabricator, Micah Rosenblatt, I designed steel armatures and bases that held traditional ikebana pin frogs. Although the bases cost a bit more, they have the advantage of being durable and useful for a lifetime. The hearty tropical stems stand securely with the pin frogs and maintain their graceful arcing stems helping to create a clean sculptural aesthetic.