Summer in Provence: Jean-Paul Gaultier at SCAD Lacoste

Traveling to Provence this summer? In the lavender-filled Luberon valley, don’t miss the medieval village of Lacoste, its cobblestoned alleyways flanked by centuries-old stone façades draped in flowers. This picturesque setting is home to the European campus of the Savannah College of Art and Design, an art and design university established more than 20 years ago. (More info on the study-abroad program below!)

Fearless Fashion

One of the highlights of a visit (and there are many!) is taking in the temporary exhibitions staged at the SCAD FASH Lacoste Museum. Last year we fell for the theatrical costumes created in partnership between Christian Lacroix and Comédie-Française, renowned as one of the longest-standing theatrical institutions in the world.

This year it’s Jean-Paul Gaultier, the “enfant terrible” of the fashion world, who gets a turn in the spotlight. One of the world’s greatest couturiers, the icon of French fashion is celebrated for his rebellious and provocative collections. The CinéMode par Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit was curated under the designer’s artistic direction, in collaboration with La Cinémathèque française and La Caixa Foundation, CinéMode. Gaultier also happens to be a cinephile, and the exhibit, running through September 30, 2024, explores the intersection of fashion and cinema.

To quote the official website: “Referencing Marlene Dietrich’s gender-fluid androgyne, Brigitte Bardot’s rebellious bombshell, Catherine Deneuve’s timeless chic, Donyale Luna’s metallic armors, and Gaultier’s own thrilling collaborations with director Pedro Almodóvar, costumes and haute couture show themselves in this exhibition of cinematic glamor.”

For more information, visit scadfash.org

The Study-Abroad Experience at SCAD

SCAD Lacoste is a residential study-abroad location in France, offering immersion in the history and culture of Provence. Course offerings each quarter are varied to apply to all SCAD areas of study and are taught by SCAD professors. Resources include a library, gallery, dining hall and housing, as well as teaching studios dedicated to painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, photography and digital imaging. Students are able to interact with visiting artists, take field trips to museums and historic sites in the area, and have an opportunity to exhibit their work.

SCAD is a private, non-profit, accredited university, offering 100 graduate and undergraduate degree programs in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; Lacoste, France; and online via SCADnow. SCAD enrolls more than 17,500 students from more than 100 countries.