The Ornamented Being

Starting this weekend, you and your family can experience the amazing exhibition Pulp Fashion: The Art of Isabelle de Borchgrave at San Francisco’s Legion of Honor museum in Lincoln Park. Pulp Fashion showcases the work of de Borchgrave, a Belgian artist who creates stunning costumes, based on art history and historic fashions, out of paper and paint. Everything depicted, from fabric, lace, and hats to jewelry, books, and fans is crafted from paper, cardboard, and paint only.

Pulp Fashion presents 60 masterworks depicting examples from throughout the history of costume, from the Renaissance finery of the Medicis and gowns worn by Queen Elizabeth I and Marie-Antoinette to designs by Christian Dior and Coco Chanel. There are also five special creations inspired by popular paintings in the Legion of Honor’s permanent collection, which are presented here for the first time ever. Make sure you go upstairs to the Legion’s European art galleries to check out the works in person after you view their paper counterparts in the exhibition.