As Demna transitions from Balenciaga to his new role at Gucci, the former Creative Director has curated an encapsulating exhibition of pieces from his ten years at the helm of the Basque-born label. The Balenciaga by Demna exhibit debuts in conjunction with “Exactitudes,” the designer’s recently released final collection with the House. A catalogue accompanying the show is produced in the style of a fashion magazine with visuals from the exhibition. At holding company Kering’s headquarters, inside the Laennec landmark at 40 rue de Sèvres, Paris, the exhibit showcases Demna’s signature blending of streetwear and couture, with delicately detailed gowns staged beside oversized hoodies, a sensibility which characterized the Creative Director’s Balenciaga tenure.

The exhibition includes 101 pieces across accessories, footwear, and garments, all curated by the Georgian designer from 30 collections released during his decade with the brand. Garments are displayed on custom-made white and black mannequins or worn by hyperrealistic sculptures of the models who once wore the pieces. Some garments stand free-floating, suspended by wire structures. Throughout the exhibition, an audio system, narrated by Demna himself, details the process of creating 50 of the garments on display.

For multiple pieces, Demna collaborated with artists who have worked with Balenciaga’s Art in Stores project, an initiative which brings in contemporary artists to create installations within the brand’s brick-and-mortar locations. For Balenciaga by Demna, the designer commissioned American artist Mark Jenkins to recreate the closing look from the Balenciaga Summer 2022 “Red Carpet” collection presentation in Jenkins’s own style of theatrically hyperreal human sculptures. In another partnership, Demna displays six shoes and accessories on top of rotating motorized stanchions from artist Andrew J. Greene’s sculpture series, Timeless Symbols.

With an extensive array of pieces presented through creative displays and meticulous curation, Balenciaga by Demna offers an insightful reflection on the past ten years at Balenciaga. Through subversive concepts and distinctive design, the exhibit renders evident the undeniable impact Demna has made on both the brand and contemporary fashion.

Balenciaga by Demna is open to the public through registration at xposition.balenciaga.com, and runs from June 26 through July 9.