Sonia Delaunay
This weekend, I was re-reading Orla Kiely’s wonderful book, Pattern, where she mentioned the influence that designer Sonia Delaunay had on her as a developing designer. It made me remember I’d snapped some cellphone pics of a Sonia Delaunay book while in San Francisco (too heavy to buy).
These pics show clearly show how Orla Kiely may have been influenced by her work, but others are far less graphic, and more about colour and about composition, which makes sense, as Delaunay was a painter before working with fashion.
Delaunay moved to paris in 1905 from her native Russia. The book, published by the Cooper Hewitt to accompany Color Moves, an exhibition of her work, looks at her painting and also at her avant-garde fashion designs and textile work during the 1920s and 1930s. The title of the book and exhibition – Color Moves – refers to her interest in the principle of ‘simultaneity’ (colour suggesting motion) which led her from painting to fashion, as she pursued her interest in merging art and everyday life.
Claire
Thanks for sharing this Heather! I am savouring every page of my Orla book too and am not familiar with Sonia Delaunay’s work so I am curious to see more. That book looks super! (*o*)/
skinnylaminx
There’s lots to that Orla Kiely book, isn’t there? Much more than I expected, and I’m finding a second read very interesting.
xx
alison
I saw the Sonia Delaunay exhibit at the Cooper Hewitt and it was fantastic! I didn’t buy the book for the same reason as you (although I had a much shorter distance to travel with it, so what was my excuse exactly?)
skinnylaminx
It’s Amazon! It makes us feel like we can wait until the time is just right before we buy. And I think that time may be now (for me, anyway)!
xx
flowerpress
Have this great pin in my pinterest that’s sonia delaunay:
http://pinterest.com/pin/44725722/
Nice to know more about her.
Marissa
I love Sonia as well! I was so pleased to have the chance to visit her exhibition at the Hewitt Cooper museum in NYC this year. Thanks for the info about her book, I’ll check it out.
arounna
I wish I saw the exhibit – but the book is a nice replacement.
Ana
Hi Heather! Saw the exhibition at the Cooper Hewitt AND bought the catalog, which serves as inspiration very, very often. I had previously studied Sonia Delaunay’s paintings and was completely unaware of her contribution to pattern and surface design.
Also, she spent some time in Portugal, which contributes to my fascination with her. 🙂
Edwina
I love Orla’s Pattern book. In fact it was on my birthday wish list. Luckily my wish list was fulfilled. It’s such a great inspiration.
Stupendous Joy
oh, she’s a favorite of mine too.
garconniere
she’s one of my all-time favourites! really beautiful.
Lauren
That triangular pattern is so dreamy. Bought file dividers in these colours today! Hope you are well Heather. x