08 April 2019 – Sotheby’s and acclaimed fashion designer Jan Taminiau will open an exclusive collaborative exhibition in which Old Master highlights from Sotheby’s forthcoming sales of The SØR Rusche Collection will be presented in the contemporary setting of Jan Taminiau’s dynamic pop-up store in Amsterdam on April 11 and 12.

Known for his love of exquisite embroidery and lavish couture dresses, Jan launched his independent label JANTAMINIAU in 2004. Showcasing his collections during Couture Fashion Week in Paris since 2007, the avant-garde designer has dressed a star-studded line-up of royals and celebrities – from Lady Gaga and Rihanna to Beyoncé and the Dutch Queen Maxima, who chose Jan to custom-make a majestic cobalt gown for the King’s coronation in 2013.

Born into a family of collectors, and with a long-held love of the Dutch masters whose work has informed his visual world, Jan recently launched his first ready-to-wear collection, the themes, timelessness and accessibility of which are echoed in his choice of works for this in-store exhibition. Having always appreciated the giants of this category, from Sir Peter Paul Rubens to Rembrandt van Rijn, here Jan has applied his informed taste and keen eye to choose works that, though may not be by these more familiar names, nevertheless speak perfectly to both his sleek space and clothing designs.

Featuring three paintings selected by Jan, the exhibition juxtaposes the classical appeal of Old Masters with the modern aesthetic of the designer’s spatial and playfully decorated space. Exceptional paintings by Adam van Breen, Edwaert Collier and Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts will line the store’s fresh white walls, creating an open dialogue between Jan’s debut ready-to-wear line and the innate beauty of these works, through texture, colour, line and depth. Speaking about the collaboration, Jan Taminiau said:

“I’ve always had a deep fascination for Old Master paintings, and I hope to shine a spotlight on the tremendous history and romance woven into these works at my store in what will be a truly unforgettable experience for all who visit. After discovering these three exquisite works, I was immediately captivated by each of the painting’s abilities to transcend time, despite being created over three centuries ago. I have chosen these paintings because they speak directly to the pieces in my own fashion line, and also to the dynamic space in which they will hang. For me, Edwaert Collier and Cornelis Norbertus Gysbrechts not only inhabit a timeless beauty, they mirror my store’s contemporary aesthetic where garments hang in repurposed art crates, and recall my first museum exhibition in Utrecht’s Centraal Museum last year. The jewel-like colours in Van Breen’s landscape immediately brought to mind the rich tones rooted in my collection while the folds of fabric recalled the sculpted sleeves and intricate textiles laced through this new line.”

The designer’s recently launched ready-to-wear collection, consisting of forty classic designs with thoughtful details, offers a complete and sustainable wardrobe for every moment of the day. A reinterpretation of Jan’s emblematic haute couture creations, the line does not follow traditional seasons but instead strives for timelessness, for women who increasingly travel to destinations with different climates. Rich in detail, shape and texture, the collection pushes boundaries whilst cherishing the traditional craft of fashioning garments, for women of all ages, size and styles. Indeed, Jan’s goal was to design enduring signature pieces that can be passed on from generation to generation.