Catch These Glamourous Summer Exhibitions at SCAD Lacoste

From Dior’s floral couture to futuristic art and fresh fashion talent, SCAD Lacoste presents a vibrant summer of exhibitions in the heart of Provence.

This summer, the medieval hilltop village of Lacoste in Provence is once again a dynamic hub of fashion, art and innovation as SCAD Lacoste hosts a trio of landmark exhibitions. From haute couture to immersive installation, SCAD’s French outpost promises an extraordinary cultural season rooted in creative excellence and regional inspiration.

CHRISTIAN DIOR: JARDINS RÊVÉS

The jewel in this summer’s crown is ‘Christian Dior: Jardins Rêvés’, the first Dior exhibition ever staged in the south of France. Presented at SCAD FASH Lacoste, this unmissable exhibition was conceived by Christian Dior Couture in partnership with SCAD and curated by Hélène Starkman, with exhibition direction from SCAD’s Rafael Brauer Gomes and Ariel Stark.

Running until September 28, the show explores Dior’s profound affinity for flowers and gardens, tracing their influence on the house’s couture through nearly a century of visionary design. More than 30 haute couture silhouettes and 60 accessories -designed by Christian Dior and his successors, including Yves Saint Laurent, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons and Maria Grazia Chiuri – are presented alongside sketches, press materials and fashion illustrations by René Gruau. The exhibition blooms gradually, echoing the stages of a flower’s life, and culminates in a cabinet of curiosities brimming with floral-inspired accessories. A specially commissioned paper installation by Wanda Barcelona evokes the designer’s sister Catherine Dior’s gardens in an ethereal, immersive setting that harmonises exquisitely with the Provençal surroundings.

DRIFT: UNFOLD

Complementing the elegance of Dior’s legacy is a groundbreaking new installation by Dutch artist duo DRIFT. This permanent exhibition invites visitors into a multisensory experience where human biology meets digital art. As visitors step into the space, real-time heartbeat data is transformed. via Al into bespoke audiovisual displays – living reflections of the body’s rhythms, fused with the botanical essence of Provence.

Commissioned by SCAD and tailored specifically for Lacoste, ‘Unfold’ is a powerful statement on interconnectedness – between people, place and nature. The installation draws inspiration from the surrounding flora of the Luberon Valley, combining ecological awareness with cutting-edge design. DRIFT’s work, already shown at the Centre Pompidou, The Shed and Art Basel, finds an especially poetic home here, adding a contemporary counterpoint to the historic charm of
SCAD Lacoste’s campus.

STUDIO BEE: 100% MADE BY SCAD

-‘Studio Bee: 100% Made by SCAD’ is a bold and thoughtfully curated showcase of work by recent SCAD fashion graduates, which is on view until November 2. Featuring collections by five alumni Ana Achurra, Ellie Byrd, Kagan McCurnin, Ruth Ng and Alexa Wexler – the exhibition spans an eclectic mix of themes, from classical literary references to interpretations of Chinese and Panamanian cultural heritage.

The pieces were first unveiled at SCAD Fashion 2024 in Savannah and now make their European debut in Lacoste. Alongside garments, the exhibition includes sculpture-based wigs by Ty Milks, imaginative shoe designs by Will Chambers, Aidan Kam and Jenny Phung, and atmospheric wall-coverings from artists such as Maggie Bandstra, Heather Dutton and Emma Lippincott. Together, the works explore the evolving voices of SCAD’s emerging designers, their deep cultural engagement, technical finesse and forward-thinking approach to fashion’s future.

A SEASON OF CREATIVITY

Each exhibition speaks to a different facet of SCAD’s mission: heritage, innovation and education. In ‘Jardins Rêvés’, the timeless elegance of Dior couture is recontextualised within a landscape the designer cherished. In ‘Unfold’, DRIFT harnesses technology to probe the essence of life and perception. And with ‘Studio Bee’, SCAD showcases the intellectual breadth and cultural awareness of its most promising young graduates.

Together, these exhibitions reflect the unique cultural hub in the heart of Provence that is SCAD, a place which draws visitors from around the world to engage with art and design in meaningful, memorable ways.

STUDYING AT LACOSTE

SCAD Lacoste is the Savannah College of Art and Design’s idyllic study-abroad location in the South of France. Nestled in a beautifully preserved medieval village in the stunning Luberon Valley, the campus offers a rich cultural experience amid Provence’s extraordinary light and pastoral charm. Historic buildings dating from the ninth to the 19th centuries house state-of-the-art facilities including teaching studios for painting, sculpture, printmaking, photography and digital imaging, as well as a library, gallery, dining hall and student housing.

Courses, taught by SCAD professors, cover all areas of study and are enriched by field trips, exhibitions, and visiting artists. Notable past guests include Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Ruben Toledo, Bibhu Mohapatra and Ilse Crawford. SCAD is a private, accredited university with campuses in Atlanta, Savannah, Lacoste and online via SCADnow. It offers over 100 degree programs and serves students from more than 100 countries. Through its future-focused curriculum and industry partnerships via SCADpro, the university boasts a 99% graduate success rate.

www.scad.edu

From France Today Magazine