Curated & Designed by ACF
(Where ACF was directly involved in curation, production, or conceptualization)
“This section highlights exhibitions, installations, and editorial projects where
Art Comes First played a leading creative role in shaping the vision, production, or storytelling of the project,
Whether through curation, exhibition design, or creative direction, ACF was integral to bringing these projects to life.”
Exhibition
Carla Fernández: Tradition Is Not Static
At Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
Boston, USA [03 October 2023 - 06 February 2024]
For the Tradition Is Not Static exhibition at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Carla Fernández—a visionary Mexican fashion designer—explores the evolution of textile traditions, working closely with 187 artisans from 16 states across Mexico. Her work preserves and reinterprets Indigenous craftsmanship, proving that tradition is not static but constantly evolving, much like the earth itself—slowly and beautifully.
Fernández’s pieces reflect the deep cultural narratives of Mexican textiles, using geometric patterning, hand-woven fabrics, and centuries-old artisanal techniques. For this exhibition, she collaborated with artisans Santos and Claudio Nájera, who use traditional hand-painted mask-making techniques to create a striking Tecuán (Jaguar) mask handbag, symbolizing the fluid transformation of objects in art and fashion.
To bring her vision to life, Art Comes First (ACF) played a vital role in the artistic direction and styling of the exhibition’s visual narrative. ACF’s styling helped contextualize Fernández’s work in a contemporary space, ensuring that the garments, accessories, and craftsmanship were not just displayed but told a story of cultural resilience and innovation. The creative direction emphasized the intersection of heritage and modernity, seamlessly bridging past and present through fashion.
By working together, Fernández and ACF created an immersive experience that honors traditional Mexican craftsmanship while pushing the boundaries of contemporary design.
Exhibition
BLACK THREAD
At Världskulturmuseet
Gothenburg [October 2020 – August 2021]
Black Thread is an exhibition that redefines perceptions of African fashion by tracing West Africa’s rich textile heritage and its influence on contemporary design. Showcasing the work of Paris-based designers Marché Noir and Imane Ayissi, alongside artifacts from the Gothenburg Museum for World Culture, the exhibition highlights traditional weaving, dyeing, and tailoring techniques beyond the well-known printed fabrics often associated with African fashion.
Art Comes First played a key role in the exhibition’s development, leading the exhibition design and visual production, as well as co-curating alongside Marché Noir. Through films and visual storytelling, ACF brings to life the connection between heritage craftsmanship and modern fashion, emphasizing sustainability and cultural continuity.
Exhibition
ALBINISM
At Zona Maco
Mexico City [Feb, 2020]
This collaborative project saw Art Comes First designing a custom clothing and curating an immersive installation space at Zona Maco, one of Latin America’s largest and most influential art fairs. The installation showcased the work of photographer Denise Ariana Pérez, featuring her powerful imagery documenting the beauty, resilience, and social challenges faced by an albino community in Africa. Through fashion, spatial design, and visual storytelling, the project aimed to spark dialogue, challenge perceptions, and amplify underrepresented voices.
Installation
S.U.I.T / suːt /
Smart. Uniform. Impeccably. Tailored
At Dover Street Market
New York City [Feb, 2016]
Art Comes First’s 2016 installation at Dover Street Market redefined the concept of the suit beyond traditional tailoring. Challenging the perception of a suit as merely a blazer and trousers, the installation showcased how anything intentionally paired—whether a denim set, a tracksuit, or structured separates—can embody the essence of a suit. Blending fashion and art, the display featured sculptural forms, masks, and meticulous styling to explore uniformity, identity, and craftsmanship.
Exhibition
RULES ARE MEANT TO BE BROKEN
At Best of Britannia
London [June, 2013]
At Best of Britannia Exhibition, Art Comes First (ACF) presented a bold installation under the theme "Rules Are Meant to Be Broken." Merging heritage with rebellion, ACF deconstructed traditional tailoring by fusing unexpected elements—classic tailoring silhouettes reimagined with unconventional fabrics and modern details, blending different eras and materials to challenge sartorial norms.
Set in a curated industrial workshop-inspired space, the installation blurred the lines between craftsmanship and counterculture, showcasing archival photography, tailoring tools, and projections that paid homage to both tradition and disruption. This was not just a fashion presentation—it was a statement on reinvention, questioning what defines a suit and how breaking the rules creates something entirely new.