Ulla Johnson took an artistic turn for her Spring 2024 collection, teaming up with Brooklyn painter Shara Hughes to create stunning dresses and soft tailoring inspired by three vibrant Surrealist landscapes.
This captivating collection was unveiled on a Sunday morning at Powerhouse Arts, a former Brooklyn Rapid Transit facility transformed into an art studio and exhibition space. Ulla Johnson added her own touch to the runway, featuring circular sand paintings that adorned the open floor.
Ulla Johnson explained her artistic inspiration, saying, “Fine arts have always been a huge inspiration for me, and Shara has a way of treating color and landscape in this psychedelic, distorted nature.” Shara Hughes, an artist who recently showcased her work at the David Kordansky Gallery in L.A., shares this unique perspective.
In response to customer demand for eveningwear, Johnson presented a range of exquisite options on the runway. The collection included ethereal ruffled organza dresses featuring marbled chevron patterns and watercolor florals, bias-cut lace and silk charmeuse slipdresses, and a striking pink Lurex jacquard gala gown.
The collection also embraced a more relaxed and sporty separates-driven style, featuring slouchy zebra-stripe silk charmeuse pants, prism-embroidered raffia fringe tanks, featherweight ruffled knits, and denim and poplin pieces in a stunning array of colors. This shift toward sculptural shapes and volumes, with an artistic and eclectic vibe, adds a new dimension to Ulla Johnson's offerings, appealing to luxury customers who already appreciate brands like Dries Van Noten, Marni, and Missoni.
