Today, May 31, we celebrate the birthday of Ellsworth Kelly, the late American painter, sculptor, and print-maker who had an exceptional influence on our founder, Francisco Costa. The two came together in 2013 for a true collaboration of art and fashion.

The Influence
“Ellsworth Kelly is someone that I really love, a legacy that is so inspiring to us at Costa Brazil.”

The Collaboration
For the artist’s 90th birthday, Costa, then global womenswear creative director at Calvin Klein, designed an interpretation of the color-blocked sleeveless sheath crafted by Kelly in 1952. It now sits in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. “The reason that he wanted a new edition of the dress is  because he didn't have the original dress any longer. His panels were made from fabric that he found in a market and then framed. The dress was based on his painting. I gave it a new silhouette, something a lot more contemporary, with no seams.”

The Lasting Connection
“Besides being an artist, Ellsworth Kelly the man was enigmatic. He had an energy that was unique. And even at age 90, he was a very fresh thinker. He always looked ahead, always had his smile.”