Met Gala Attire of K-Pop Star Sparks Debate: Henry Taylor's Artwork "Rosa Parks" Underwear Displayed.
K-Pop star Lisa, a member of Blackpink, faced backlash on Monday over claims that her Met Gala 2023 outfit showcased civil rights activist Rosa Parks's face embroidered on her undergarment. The outfit, a lacy bodysuit and blazer from Louis Vuitton, was designed by Pharrell Williams, the brand's new men's creative director.
Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the embroidery Pattern was drawn from artworks by Henry Taylor and actually featured the faces of people the painter knew, including neighbors, family members, and friends. A representative for Taylor clarified this to Vulture, stating that none of the individuals depicted were Rosa Parks or other prominent figures from Black cultural history.
In fact, Taylor explained that all of the faces portrayed were people from his personal life. These figures were drawn directly from his existing artworks, which he provided to LVMH for Pharrell's debut collection with Louis Vuitton in 2023.
This misunderstanding led to a wave of negative comments and debate on social media, but reliable reports and official statements confirmed the mistake.
Notably, this year's edition of the Met Gala had a host committee to support the Costume Institute's exhibition "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" and the theme of Black Dandyism. The committee featured top Black artists such as Rashid Johnson, Jordan Casteel, and Kara Walker, among others. Taylor himself was also among the artists present.
In light of the controversy, it is essential to clarify that Lisa's outfit at the Met Gala did not intentionally misrepresent any public figures, and the embroidery evidently drew from personal connections rather than famous icons.
- Henry Taylor, the artist whose work was used in Pharrell Williams' debut collection for Louis Vuitton, clarified that the embroidery on Lisa's Met Gala outfit did not feature Rosa Parks.
- The Met Gala 2023, with its host committee of top Black artists like Rashid Johnson, Jordan Casteel, Kara Walker, and Henry Taylor himself, aimed to support the Costume Institute's exhibition centering on Black style and fashion.
- The misunderstanding about Lisa's Met Gala outfit, which led to a wave of negative comments, was, in fact, a misrepresentation of the embroidery pattern, which was drawn from Henry Taylor's personal artworks featuring people from his life.
- The art world and entertainment landscape, as exemplified by the Met Gala and the caliber of artists involved, continues to intersect, contributing to the cultural conversation around art, fashion, and pop-culture.
