Surface design has always been a major part of my work. In the beginning of my costume design career I painted, stapled, and taped fake dollar bills to prom dresses and glittered the names of ex-boyfriends over blue satin skirts to create a collaged appearance that was messy and raw.
In 2005 I began working with custom screen printed fabrics in a desire to mimic Kansai Yamamotos’ bold looks for David Bowie. I also became fascinated with Japanese woodblock prints and the way the colors, patterns and flow of the line created movement within the work.
Screen printing became my go to technique for many looks. I loved the way a print bounced off stage and the idea that even a simple shape could become unique when brought to life with high contrast color combinations and sharp zig- zag designs.
In 2012 I was invited to show at the Diesel Gallery in Tokyo. I was showing five of Karen O’s costumes but the gallery also wanted pieces that could be sold, so for the first time I made prints on paper and canvas to be hung on a wall. This experience made me realize that more than creating clothing, what I loved more was painting, printing and collage. It was where my heart felt most at home.
These pieces are meant to represent my love of print and collage, bold color and the movement that can be created with shapes and tonal combinations
