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16 Down
£600.00
Oil and acrylic on canvas
90cm × 120cm
16 Down is a playful, fashion-forward painting capturing a striking pin-up model wearing a crossword puzzle mini skirt, inspired by vintage fashion photography from the 1960s. The quirky graphic dress immediately caught my attention as a bold and witty statement of the era.
The crossword mini dress was originally designed by Robert Krausz in 1968, epitomising the spirit of late-1960s fashion, when mini skirts became a symbol of youthful freedom, creativity, and optimism. This period marked a cultural shift away from the conservatism of the 1940s and 50s, reflecting a prosperous, experimental, and socially liberated moment in time.
The monochrome portrait is set against a layered collage of mosaic Islamic Moroccan patterns, torn posters, and fragmented advertisements. These elements are inspired by the décollage works of Jacques Villeglé, creating a textured backdrop that speaks to memory, media, and the visual language of the street. Together, the contrasting surfaces merge fashion, history, and graphic playfulness into a vibrant contemporary composition.
This contemporary figurative painting blends 1960s fashion, pop culture, vintage photography, and collage-inspired abstraction to celebrate youth, style, and cultural nostalgia.