Agatha Ruiz de la Prada emerged as Spain’s visionary fashion designer in the 1980s, after Spain’s decades of military-style dictatorship were over at an end and a wave of liberalization swept into the country. Born in Madrid into a family of art collectors and educated at Barcelona’s School of Art and Fashion Technique, Agatha quickly became a force on the Spain’s arts scene, embracing Pop Art, Mark Rothko, and the English New Wave movement.
By opting for bright, candy colors and patterns of moons, stars, and hearts – a dramatic departure from the austerity and simplicity prevalent in Spanish design – Agatha Ruiz de la Prada infused much needed energy and vitality into the world of Spanish fashion. Her influence on Spanish design was further strengthened when she began licensing her name to manufacturers of household items and other consumer products. She continues to produce runways collections and has been designing her own line of footwear since 2002.
Agatha Ruiz de la Prada | Lifetime Achievement Award 2011
Since childhood, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (Madrid 1960) coexisted with the most avant-garde creativity. Her father, favorite architect of Madrid’s high aristocracy, and well known collector of abstract art of the time. In her mother’s family, a clear example of cultured Catalan aristocracy, we find the likes of Count Güell (Gaudi’s unforgettable patron) and the architect Josep Lluís Sert.
Agatha, fascinated by art and artists, some of which dropped by her home, she thought to become a painter but eventually, through fashion and design, enabled her to transmit her unique visual philosophy, in coherence with her own lifestyle. Following her own life philosophy, she created her own world through colors and icons, which is nothing more than the natural reflection of her vibrant personality: fresh and rebellious. For many, she is the most original designer and creator of clothing in the last years. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the world. Not going into too much depth, these are only some of the most representative. In Spain: IVAM in Valencia, the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid and in Caixa Forum in Barcelona. At the Museum of Contemporary Art, Bordeaux, the Würth Foundation of Germany, National Cordoaria, Lisbon, Museum of Modern Art in Paris, La Triennial of Milan, at the Museum of Antioquia in Medellin, La Piscine, Museum of Art and Industry of Roubaix.
For her first fashion shows she used unusual catwalks, always linked to the art world; in Barcelona, the Royal Shipyards (1984) and Mercado del Borne (1985) and Madrid, in the Railway Museum, where that same year, set in a rock concert, presented her collection “Agatha for President” to do so, in the next edition, with a Medieval music quartet. In 1987, the San Telmo Museum of San Sebastian, as a tribute to Cristobal Balenciaga and in 1988, at the International University Menéndez-Pelayo of Santander. In 1989 she started her international projects with a show of “Unfinished Dresses” in Berlin and Madrid. The following year Osaka, and then Kyoto with “Lady from Spain”, hosted her collections. In 1996 she created a line of apparel for Swatch in the Olympic Games in Atlanta and presented in the Aurora de Murcia Gallery, her collection of prints in the exhibition “Primera Mirada” (First Look). In 1997, she collaborated with the Contemporary Art Fair in Madrid, ARCO. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, with her products in the major capitals of the world, fashion shows in Paris, where she opened her first store outside of Spain.
Since 2004, with the opening of headquarters in Milan, decided to use Italy as an international launch pad and presents her collections: for children in Florence at Pitti Bimbo and for women in the Milan’s Fashion Week. Currently, her many products that cover the world of clothing, decor and household items are sold in over one hundred countries, and the name of the designer is known in five continents, both for her products and her constant contribution into the art world with exhibits, stage sets, books, posters, and university lectures… It has been thirty years devoted to design of both clothing as well as other products: perfumes, glasses, linen, dishware, furniture, stationery, theatre sets and theatre costumes, urban spaces and murals. In March of 2011, in honor of the 30th anniversary of her first fashion show, the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation is debut, in a beautiful space, surrounded by nature, with the goal to preserve and catalog all of her work, for the knowledge and research of future generations.
Now the works of Agatha returns to the Fortezza da Basso, where many times she has shown her collections. Paradoxically, Ruiz de la Prada, as an expression of the most committed modernity is a metaphor for this wonderful city that she loves and has been unique platform for her international expansion. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, at the Biennial, symbolizes the meeting of the cultivated and natural, avant-garde and classic, as over so many centuries, Florence was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful spots in the world and most influential in art and Western culture.
– See more at: http://www.florencebiennale.org/e_agatha.php#sthash.KATUJXEA.dpuf
Agatha Ruiz de la Prada | Lifetime Achievement Award 2011
Since childhood, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (Madrid 1960) coexisted with the most avant-garde creativity. Her father, favorite architect of Madrid’s high aristocracy, and well known collector of abstract art of the time. In her mother’s family, a clear example of cultured Catalan aristocracy, we find the likes of Count Güell (Gaudi’s unforgettable patron) and the architect Josep Lluís Sert.
Agatha, fascinated by art and artists, some of which dropped by her home, she thought to become a painter but eventually, through fashion and design, enabled her to transmit her unique visual philosophy, in coherence with her own lifestyle. Following her own life philosophy, she created her own world through colors and icons, which is nothing more than the natural reflection of her vibrant personality: fresh and rebellious. For many, she is the most original designer and creator of clothing in the last years. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the world. Not going into too much depth, these are only some of the most representative. In Spain: IVAM in Valencia, the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid and in Caixa Forum in Barcelona. At the Museum of Contemporary Art, Bordeaux, the Würth Foundation of Germany, National Cordoaria, Lisbon, Museum of Modern Art in Paris, La Triennial of Milan, at the Museum of Antioquia in Medellin, La Piscine, Museum of Art and Industry of Roubaix.
For her first fashion shows she used unusual catwalks, always linked to the art world; in Barcelona, the Royal Shipyards (1984) and Mercado del Borne (1985) and Madrid, in the Railway Museum, where that same year, set in a rock concert, presented her collection “Agatha for President” to do so, in the next edition, with a Medieval music quartet. In 1987, the San Telmo Museum of San Sebastian, as a tribute to Cristobal Balenciaga and in 1988, at the International University Menéndez-Pelayo of Santander. In 1989 she started her international projects with a show of “Unfinished Dresses” in Berlin and Madrid. The following year Osaka, and then Kyoto with “Lady from Spain”, hosted her collections. In 1996 she created a line of apparel for Swatch in the Olympic Games in Atlanta and presented in the Aurora de Murcia Gallery, her collection of prints in the exhibition “Primera Mirada” (First Look). In 1997, she collaborated with the Contemporary Art Fair in Madrid, ARCO. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, with her products in the major capitals of the world, fashion shows in Paris, where she opened her first store outside of Spain.
Since 2004, with the opening of headquarters in Milan, decided to use Italy as an international launch pad and presents her collections: for children in Florence at Pitti Bimbo and for women in the Milan’s Fashion Week. Currently, her many products that cover the world of clothing, decor and household items are sold in over one hundred countries, and the name of the designer is known in five continents, both for her products and her constant contribution into the art world with exhibits, stage sets, books, posters, and university lectures… It has been thirty years devoted to design of both clothing as well as other products: perfumes, glasses, linen, dishware, furniture, stationery, theatre sets and theatre costumes, urban spaces and murals. In March of 2011, in honor of the 30th anniversary of her first fashion show, the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation is debut, in a beautiful space, surrounded by nature, with the goal to preserve and catalog all of her work, for the knowledge and research of future generations.
Now the works of Agatha returns to the Fortezza da Basso, where many times she has shown her collections. Paradoxically, Ruiz de la Prada, as an expression of the most committed modernity is a metaphor for this wonderful city that she loves and has been unique platform for her international expansion. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, at the Biennial, symbolizes the meeting of the cultivated and natural, avant-garde and classic, as over so many centuries, Florence was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful spots in the world and most influential in art and Western culture.
– See more at: http://www.florencebiennale.org/e_agatha.php#sthash.KATUJXEA.dpuf
Agatha Ruiz de la Prada | Lifetime Achievement Award 2011
Since childhood, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada (Madrid 1960) coexisted with the most avant-garde creativity. Her father, favorite architect of Madrid’s high aristocracy, and well known collector of abstract art of the time. In her mother’s family, a clear example of cultured Catalan aristocracy, we find the likes of Count Güell (Gaudi’s unforgettable patron) and the architect Josep Lluís Sert.
Agatha, fascinated by art and artists, some of which dropped by her home, she thought to become a painter but eventually, through fashion and design, enabled her to transmit her unique visual philosophy, in coherence with her own lifestyle. Following her own life philosophy, she created her own world through colors and icons, which is nothing more than the natural reflection of her vibrant personality: fresh and rebellious. For many, she is the most original designer and creator of clothing in the last years. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the world. Not going into too much depth, these are only some of the most representative. In Spain: IVAM in Valencia, the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid and in Caixa Forum in Barcelona. At the Museum of Contemporary Art, Bordeaux, the Würth Foundation of Germany, National Cordoaria, Lisbon, Museum of Modern Art in Paris, La Triennial of Milan, at the Museum of Antioquia in Medellin, La Piscine, Museum of Art and Industry of Roubaix.
For her first fashion shows she used unusual catwalks, always linked to the art world; in Barcelona, the Royal Shipyards (1984) and Mercado del Borne (1985) and Madrid, in the Railway Museum, where that same year, set in a rock concert, presented her collection “Agatha for President” to do so, in the next edition, with a Medieval music quartet. In 1987, the San Telmo Museum of San Sebastian, as a tribute to Cristobal Balenciaga and in 1988, at the International University Menéndez-Pelayo of Santander. In 1989 she started her international projects with a show of “Unfinished Dresses” in Berlin and Madrid. The following year Osaka, and then Kyoto with “Lady from Spain”, hosted her collections. In 1996 she created a line of apparel for Swatch in the Olympic Games in Atlanta and presented in the Aurora de Murcia Gallery, her collection of prints in the exhibition “Primera Mirada” (First Look). In 1997, she collaborated with the Contemporary Art Fair in Madrid, ARCO. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, with her products in the major capitals of the world, fashion shows in Paris, where she opened her first store outside of Spain.
Since 2004, with the opening of headquarters in Milan, decided to use Italy as an international launch pad and presents her collections: for children in Florence at Pitti Bimbo and for women in the Milan’s Fashion Week. Currently, her many products that cover the world of clothing, decor and household items are sold in over one hundred countries, and the name of the designer is known in five continents, both for her products and her constant contribution into the art world with exhibits, stage sets, books, posters, and university lectures… It has been thirty years devoted to design of both clothing as well as other products: perfumes, glasses, linen, dishware, furniture, stationery, theatre sets and theatre costumes, urban spaces and murals. In March of 2011, in honor of the 30th anniversary of her first fashion show, the Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Foundation is debut, in a beautiful space, surrounded by nature, with the goal to preserve and catalog all of her work, for the knowledge and research of future generations.
Now the works of Agatha returns to the Fortezza da Basso, where many times she has shown her collections. Paradoxically, Ruiz de la Prada, as an expression of the most committed modernity is a metaphor for this wonderful city that she loves and has been unique platform for her international expansion. Agatha Ruiz de la Prada, at the Biennial, symbolizes the meeting of the cultivated and natural, avant-garde and classic, as over so many centuries, Florence was undoubtedly one of the most beautiful spots in the world and most influential in art and Western culture.
– See more at: http://www.florencebiennale.org/e_agatha.php#sthash.KATUJXEA.dpuf
