The Costumier’s Mannequin – SOLD

Every now and then an artist needs to step away from styles that their collectors get used to and spread their wings to feel more alive and create something fresh or chronicle something that has personal significance. More recently, Kate Smith produced a limited range of works that feature whimsical clothing mannequins, the kind used by dressmakers and couturiers. The lovely work shown here “The Costumier’s Mannequin” tells so many stories about Kate’s rich and unpredictable life. Kate Smith’s mannequin paintings reference her love of fashion and beautiful garments and are reminders of the early part of her life when she had ambitions to become a fashion designer, moving from New Zealand to Sydney to take on the world of clothing design. An unfortunate mishap on the trip over saw her sewing machine become damaged and on arrival in Australia Kate also tragically discovered that all her beautiful European fabrics she’d ordered for her designs had accidentally been shipped back to Germany! Kate’s life then steered off in other directions and she went on to became an accomplished artist. Not surprisingly, glamour and fashion remain signature elements in Kate’s beautiful pastels, with the beautiful women in her pieces often dressed in stylish garments conjured from Kate’s imagination. Kate and her husband were always fascinated by fashion, dressing in beautiful and stylish clothing. Kate has often joked about her husband’s copious collection of designer black skinny jeans!!!