National Portrait Gallery Unveils Romance Was Born Art Installation

The National Portrait Gallery in Canberra has unveiled a new photographic installation featuring Australian fashion designers Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales, the creative minds behind Romance Was Born. Established in 2005, the fashion house has garnered international acclaim, with their designs showcased at prestigious venues like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Plunkett and Sales are known for their unique and sustainable approach to fashion, incorporating vintage textiles and upcycling into their creations.

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Artist Samuel Hodge, a longtime friend of Plunkett and Sales, was tasked with capturing the essence of Romance Was Born through a multi-medium portrait. Hodge’s installation, a culmination of photography, paint, and dye, reflects the bold and unconventional nature of the designers’ work. The piece spans an entire wall, symbolizing the extravagant and dramatic flair that defines Romance Was Born’s aesthetic.

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Bree Pickering, the Director of the National Portrait Gallery, emphasized the brand’s distinct voice in the fashion industry and the need for a portrait that matched its unconventional style. Plunkett and Sales’s contribution to the Australian fashion scene has been significant, with their work resonating both locally and globally. The portrait installation serves as a tribute to their 20 years of creativity and innovation in the industry.

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Reflecting on Sydney’s creative landscape in the mid-2000s, Pickering highlighted the synchronicity of Romance Was Born’s emergence with the city’s artistic renaissance. Hodge’s artwork encapsulates not just the designers but also the spirit of Sydney’s cultural milieu during that period. The portrait is a testament to the brand’s evolution over two decades, capturing the essence of Romance Was Born while celebrating its enduring impact on the fashion world.

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Plunkett and Sales’s commitment to sustainability and artistic expression has set them apart as unique fashion designers with a vision that transcends traditional boundaries. Their collaborative ethos and innovative design philosophy have left an indelible mark on the industry, inspiring a new generation of creatives to push the boundaries of fashion and art.