A wrap-up exhibition curated by Demna, encapsulating his decade at the House from 2015 to 2025, presented at Kering’s headquarters within the historic Laennec monument at 40 rue de Sèvres, 75007 Paris. Expanding on Balenciaga by Demna’s “Exactitudes” collection (his Spring 26 collection and his final ready-to-wear collection for the House), the exhibition embodies the design codes, volumes, silhouettes and attitudes that have defined his oeuvre.
The exhibition begins with a selection of objects that served as invitations to Balenciaga’s collections, followed by 101 exhibits chosen by Demna, including two Pieces on loan from the Palais Galliera fashion museum in Paris. These displays include complete outfits, individual garments, accessories, and footwear from 30 different collections spanning a decade.
Exploring the key concepts and themes of Demna’s tenure at the House, the exhibits include his reinterpretations of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s codes, exercises in proportion, studies of the “readymade,” trompe l’oeil, upcycling, a rethinking of the pre-established rules of fashion, and his ongoing examination of contemporary wardrobe: what people wear, how they wear it, and where the fine line lies between fashion and luxury.
An audio system accompanies 50 of the exhibits, offering insight into the meaning and creative process behind each piece through Demna’s expert narration. The exhibits are presented on custom-made stands or in dedicated displays, which include specialized mannequins, hyper-realistic sculptures of the models who originally wore the outfits, dry-cleaner-style hangers, and double-sided stands that feature the garments alongside the archival styles that inspired them.
Select pieces are also presented as artworks, created in collaboration with artists who have contributed to the Balenciaga Art in Stores project. The closing look from the Balenciaga Summer 22 collection presentation, “Red Carpet,” worn by Demna, is reinterpreted by American artist Mark Jenkins as one of his iconic humanoid sculptures. Additionally, a selection of six shoes and accessories are integrated into works from Andrew J. Greene’s Timeless Symbols series, mounted on stainless steel stands and rotated by hidden motors.
The catalog, designed in the style of a glossy fashion magazine, features images from the exhibitions alongside visual elements created especially for the publication.
Balenciaga by Demna will be on display from June 26 to July 9 and is open to the public upon registration, accessible through exposition.balenciaga.com.
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