'The Art of the Mannequin': Ralph Pucci and 40 Years of Mannequins

2015 marks the 40^th year Ralph Pucci has been with the mannequin company founded by his parents as a repair company in the 1950's.  At that time, mannequins wore wigs, had  heavy makeup and were rigid with stiff personas. That all changed with the arrival of  Ralph Pucci, the industry was revolutionized.   Mannequins became an art form. Sizes changed, mannequins were more relaxed.  Pucci's mannequins not only expanded the parameters of this ubiquitous sculptural form, but reflected major cultural trends of the past decad es.  The mannequins became agents of change in the attitudes to the body, to fashion, and individual identity.

It began with a collection of male action mannequins in diving poses, bike riding poses and other athletic poses.  They were new, different and hugely successful.  The likeness of a series of fashion models followed becoming the next innovation from Pucci Mannequins.

He collaborated with the many talented designers and artists producing collections with Andree Putman, Ruben Toledo, Kenny Scharf,  Maira Kalman,  Diane Von Furstenberg, Anna Sui, Veruschka, Christy Turlington, Patrick Naggar and many other artists and designers.  Over the years, many in-house collections were produced with Pucci sculptor Michael Evert.  

In anticipation of the 40^th year,  Pucci produced 'THE ART OF THE MANNEQUIN' catalog,  a history of the 40 years under Ralph's direction.

On  February 5^th,  2015, the Pucci New York City showroom will have a photography retrospective of  'THE MAKING OF THE MANNEQUIN'  starting with the original clay sculptures to the finished mannequin.  The photography will be by Antoine Bootz.

A special exhibit, Ralph Pucci's 'THE ART OF THE MANNEQUIN',  will be featured at the Museum  of  Arts and Design (MAD) at Columbus Circle from March 31^st to August 30^th,  2015.  For the retrospective,  30 groundbreaking mannequins will be featured that changed the retail landscape, as well as,  an on-site replica of the Pucci in-house sculpturing room, the sanctuary where Pucci turns out the mannequins,  showing the developing process from the clay models and taking the mannequins to the finished  product. 

Organized by MAD chief curator Lowery Stokes Sims and Barbara Paris Gifford, Curatorial  Assistant and Project  Manager, the exhibition will be accompanied by a publication that includes a forward by Margaret Russell, editor in chief of Architectural Digest, an essay by art historian Emily M. Orr on the history of mannequins and an interview with Pucci by Jake Yuzna, Director of Public Programs at MAD.

RALPH PUCCI INTERNATIONAL,  www.ralphpucci.net

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press:      Maria Pucci,   maria@ralphpucci.net