Lynn Movish — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

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In the vivid, scintillating world of Lynn Movish’s art, each vintage lunchbox transformed into a bedazzled art piece is not just a container but a portal to a fantastical universe. Her collection, featuring repurposed metal lunchboxes intricately adorned with Austrian crystals, presents a unique intersection of nostalgia, luxury, and imaginative expression, positioning Movish as a visionary in the fusion of art and fashion.

Movish, born in the Catskill Mountains of New York during its bustling and magical era, was imbued from a young age with the sparkle of celebrity and the sheen of grand hotel opulence, which her father, a waiter, brought into close proximity. This early encounter with glitz and the subsequent decay of her surroundings imbued in her a desire to capture and recreate the glitter of those better times through her artworks.

Movish's career trajectory from creating advertising specialties for global brands to her flourishing art practice encapsulates a journey of transformation. Her mission has been to resurrect discarded relics by lavishing them with vibrant, painstakingly applied crystals, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary. Each piece, composed of crystals often no bigger than a pen tip, is a testament to her patience and skill. "They are so tiny when you look at them individually, but collectively, they light up a room," Lynn remarks on her meticulous craft.

Her bags serve as canvases where the vintage and contemporary meet. Works like Bewitched, Evening Barbie, and Lost in Space not only showcase technical prowess but also a dynamic storytelling element, drawing viewers into a narrative both familiar and enchantingly foreign. The Space Cadet and Starry Night creations, for example, illustrate how Movish’s use of color and texture can invoke the vastness of space or the swirl of Van Gogh's starry skies, yet in a completely new medium and motif.

Comparisons might be drawn between Movish and Gustav Klimt, another artist who used tiny, individual elements (his golden leaf) to create grand, textured compositions. Just as Klimt captured the complexity of his subjects through intricate details and symbolic layering, Movish too uses her crystals to reflect facets of light and depth, making each lunchbox pulse with its own life.

Movish's work does more than dazzle; it communicates through its sparkle a profound appreciation of the past—its culture, its icons, and its aesthetic. Each piece is a microcosm of history, refashioned for the contemporary collector. Not just objects of beauty, these bags are emblematic of a deeper cultural resonance, connecting the dots between personal memories and shared histories.

The fashion and art communities have long intersected, but rarely with such literal and metaphorical brilliance. Fashion history is replete with examples of garments and accessories as art forms—from the embroidered gowns of the medieval courts to the avant-garde runways of modern Paris and Milan. Movish extends this tradition into functional art. Her lunchboxes are not merely accessories; they are wearable stories, each bead and crystal a word in a sparkling narrative.

The future of fashion art seems poised to become even more immersive and personalized, with artists like Lynn leading the way. The intricate detail and vibrant storytelling embedded in her pieces suggest a continuing trend toward blending artistic legacy with modern-day wearability. In her hands, a forgotten lunchbox becomes a treasure chest, a repository of gleaming fantasies.

A recipient of numerous awards, Movish's dedication to her craft and her ability to transform the everyday into something magical are clear. Each of her creations, more than 25 to date with many more planned, is a standalone piece of art, promising its owner not just a story or a shimmer, but a glimpse into a revived, resplendent era.

As Lynn Movish continues her journey, the art and fashion worlds watch eagerly. Each lunchbox, lined with velvet and sparkling with the light of countless crystals, is a testament to her vision and skill—an emblem of what fashion and art can achieve when they come together, hand in hand, under the banner of imagination and splendor.

Lynn Movish's art is a confluence of memory, imagination, and painstaking craftsmanship, merging the nostalgic allure of vintage Americana with the modern luxury of Austrian crystals. Born in the vibrant Catskill Mountains during its heyday, Movish was surrounded by the grandeur of large hotels, where her father's role as a waiter offered her glimpses into a world of celebrities, comedians, and musicians, infusing her childhood with a sense of wonder and opulence. This backdrop, coupled with the region’s eventual decline, planted the seeds of creativity and transformation in Movish, prompting her to revive the faded glamour of yesteryears through her art.

Initially carving a successful niche in the advertising specialties industry, Movish honed her design skills crafting unique promotional items for some of the largest brands globally. This phase of her career was not merely a job but a prelude to her true calling—creating art that speaks both of legacy and of momentary beauty. Transitioning from marketing products to creating art was a natural progression for Movish, driven by her desire to resurrect discarded objects, infusing them with new life and vibrancy through the meticulous application of crystals.

Her collection of embellished vintage lunchboxes is more than an artistic endeavor; it is a revitalization of cultural artifacts, transforming them into glittering mosaics that tell stories. Each lunchbox, from themes like Bewitched to The Lone Ranger, is a canvas, where pop culture and crystal craftsmanship intertwine to create dazzling functional art pieces. The result is a stunning visual feast that blends utility with fantasy, each piece echoing the glitz of the Catskills' past.

Drawing parallels to the art nouveau master Gustav Klimt, Movish employs a similar approach in her use of tiny, individual elements to construct intricate, textured vistas that are rich in detail and symbolism. Klimt used gold leaf to transform his canvases into shimmering, ethereal scenes that transcended the mundane. Similarly, Movish uses crystals not just as adornment but as integral elements that capture and manipulate light, bringing depth and life to her compositions. Her works are not only viewed but experienced, as they reflect light and dazzle the eye, much like Klimt's paintings which are known for their vibrant, life-like quality.

Furthermore, her art resonates with the broader narrative of fashion history, where the transformation of everyday items into luxurious commodities has long been celebrated. The history of fashion is filled with instances where the ordinary is made extraordinary through art—be it the detailed tapestries of the Renaissance, the elaborate lacework of the Baroque period, or the bold expressions of modern haute couture. Movish’s lunchboxes contribute to this narrative, bridging the gap between historical reverence and contemporary chic, making them not only items of personal luxury but also pieces of cultural commentary.

In the world of high fashion, accessories have often been the site of artistic expression, but Movish elevates this concept by turning accessories into standalone pieces of art. Her lunchboxes challenge the boundaries between the functional and the ornamental, inviting us to reconsider what constitutes an accessory. Is it merely an addition to one's attire, or can it also be a statement of artistry?

Each of Movish’s creations is a testament to her vision: a belief in the beauty of rebirth and the enduring allure of meticulous artisanship. With over 25 unique pieces created and many more in the planning stages, her collection is a growing tribute to the transformative power of art. Her work encourages us to find beauty in the forgotten, to reimagine the past in the sparkle of the present, and to carry a piece of art into the everyday.

As we look to the future of art and fashion, Movish's work stands out as a beacon of innovation and inspiration. It is a celebration of the past, a commentary on the present, and a hopeful glance towards a future where art is not only observed but intimately experienced as part of our daily lives. Her lunchboxes are not merely accessories; they are artifacts of a personal and cultural renaissance, each lined with velvet and shining with the promise of rediscovered glory. With every crystal placed, Lynn Movish not only captures the light of the world around her but also the imaginations of those who look upon her work, ensuring that her artful journey continues to inspire and enchant.

By Marta Puig

Editor Contemporary Art Curator Magazine