Anthony Vaccarello taps Francesco Clemente to blur the lines between art and fashion
For Summer 2025, Saint Laurent trades the fashion campaign formula for fine art. Under the direction of Anthony Vaccarello, the house enlisted painter Francesco Clemente to interpret the collection through a series of portraits—featuring Zoë Kravitz, Isabella Ferrari, Penelope Ternes, and Ajus Samuel—each rendered with Clemente’s unmistakable lyricism.
Known for exploring dualities like the spiritual and physical, or the feminine and masculine, Clemente approaches the subjects as more than clothes-wearers. “There is only one language of form and it is the same as the language of tenderness,” he reflects—a sentiment echoed in the portraits’ intimate, softened tone.
“I first discovered Clemente’s work in the 1990s,” said Vaccarello. “I could perfectly imagine my collection being portrayed by his poetic use of colors.” The collaboration, created with the Vito Schnabel Gallery, pushes Saint Laurent further into a space where fashion is seen not just as design, but as cultural dialogue.
The result is a campaign that exists on two levels: a portrait series and a quietly radical reflection on presence, femininity, and memory. As fashion leans louder, Saint Laurent goes deeper.
