My Modern Met Article
Fashion-Forward Artist Expresses Vibrant Personality in Elaborate Wearable Sculptures
For many people, getting dressed can be an uneventful chore. But for London-based artist Daniel Lismore, selecting garments and layering accessories allows him to express his vibrant, multidimensional personality. We’re not talking jeans and different t-shirts, either. Lismore dresses in extravagant ensembles that highlight his unique sartorial point of view and sculptural approach to clothing. Clad in intricate headdresses, art history inspired frocks, and a bevy of baubles, Lismore’s distinct looks are impeccably styled. In addition, he’s done up with a doll-like application of makeup and then documents it all through self-portrait photography.
To create these unforgettable outfits and images, Lismore combines “haute couture with charity-shop finds.” Vintage fabrics, found objects, ribbons, feathers, shells, and chain mail are just some of the raw materials that are draped and arranged into a cohesive outfit. Often, this is achieved through a limited color palette,which allows the textures of each look to shine.
The taste maker—whose famous friends include Debbie Harry, Boy George, and Vivienne Westwood—is the subject of a recent book called Daniel Lismore: Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken. It’s his first major publication that features the essence of his creative soul—30 ensembles that reference a variety of historical, social, and cultural themes from across the globe. It’s now available through Amazon.