Loewe Launches Holiday Collection Inspired by Artist Ken Price


Jonathan Anderson Releases a Loewe Artisinal Holiday Capsule Inspired by the Famous 60s Artist

Jonathan Anderson continues to take craft and art to heart with his latest holiday 2020 Loewe collection inspired by the art of the late Ken Price. The launch comes on the heels of Anderson’s ‘Show On The Wall’ Loewe Spring 2021 invitation. Loewe typically releases a holiday capsule inspired by a meaningful artist, but Jonathan seems particularly excited by this years choice.

I have always been drawn to artists whose practices expand, push and challenge conventions. Over the past few years, the Loewe capsule collection has allowed me to delve into my passion for art imbued with the materiality of craft. I have long admired the work of Ken Price who once said, ‘We’ve been cited as the people who broke away from the crafts hierarchy and substituted so-called ‘total freedom’!’. This is utterly inspiring.

– Jonathan Anderson
Ken Price

Born in the thirties and active in America, where he established himself in the early sixties as part of the milieu of the legendary Ferus Gallery, Ken (Kenneth) Price (1935-2012) was a recognized illustrator and sculptor committed to clay as a material. In his small-scale, brightly colored ceramic sculptures, one can see nods to ancient Mexican earthenware, traditional folk pottery, and the Bauhaus fusion of crafts and fine arts. Price produced both abstract and biomorphic forms and more functional objects that were part of various display devices such as his ‘town units.’ The objects in these units emanate insouciance and energy: boldly hued cityscapes and landscapes in a humorous cartoon-like style are scattered all over pottery and plates. The collection took a great deal of inspiration from a series of twenty unique hand-painted ceramic plates Price made for La Palme restaurant, in Newport Beach, in the early 1980s.

“Car Plunge” – Ken Price 1994

Motifs from the La Palme, Easter Island, LA Series, and Happy ́s Curios are featured
in the Loewe collection, interpreted as prints, allover prints, intarsia, and leather
marquetry, unfolding on pieces of clothing as well as leather accessories.

Loewe worked with Craig McDean on pictures that capture the dynamism and
the glowing spirit of the project. Behind the sandy boardwalk along which the
models stroll, three bespoke shelving units —a nod to Price’s town units— display
a selection of Puzzle, Bamboo Bucket, and Hammock Bags with Price’s works
reimagined in intarsia.

The collection speaks on many levels. Craft, which is central to the Loewe ethos,
is reassessed in its modern liveliness. An uplifting and very timely sense of joy
comes to the fore in sunny, Pacific bright hues.

Phots | Craig McDean
Catalogue Images | Nacho Alegre