Fashion celebrated in Rita Angus: Life & Vision on 23 Sept - MEDIA RELEASE from Auckland Art Gallery

Auckland Art Gallery celebrates fashion in Rita Angus: Life & Vision on Thursday, 24 September.

The gallery will be transformed into a catwalk for a special public evening in the free blockbuster exhibition from 5pm to 8pm.

Fashion students from AUT University will present designer garments they've created in response to Rita Angus.

Bachelor of Design senior lecturer Andreas Mikellis says the second year fashion majors were inspired by very different aspects of Rita Angus' works.

"Some used the 1930s clothes in Rita's portraits as a starting point for contemporary innovation," he says.

"Others were influenced by her stylistic stages such as cubism and modernism and some reflected psychological aspects of her self-portraits. I've been really intrigued and impressed by their response."

Auckland Art Gallery public programme curator Kim O'Loughlin says the fashion collaboration brings a fresh dimension to the gallery experience.

"I'm looking forward to the students' response to next year's 4th Auckland Triennial, which has a theme of adventure and risk in art," he says.

Rita Angus: Life & Vision is on until 1 November at Auckland Art Gallery, corner of Wellesley & Lorne Streets. Open daily 10am to 5pm. Free entry.