Cap with Morning Glories c. 1948 - 1952

This 'Cap with Morning Glories' was put together by Elsa Schiaparelli, and I’m guessing it was probably a bit of a process - because look at all those petals! It’s bursting with these morning glories in all these shades of pink and purple, tied with little satin ribbons. The ribbons themselves are so smooth, almost fleshy against the delicate, paper-thin petals. They have this kind of glow, they catch the light in a way that makes them look almost alive. It’s like they’re whispering secrets. Look at the way the colors shift in each flower, from deep violet to lavender. It reminds me of how different colors can blend in a painting. There's a kind of controlled chaos here that reminds me of my friend Elizabeth Murray's work, and her deconstructed forms and crazy color combinations. Both artists make something new through a process of rearranging and rebuilding. And that’s what art is, right? An ongoing conversation.