Artist, Poet, And DJ Juliana Huxtable Is the Star of KENZO X H&M’s Campaign

The worlds of art and fashion seem to be embracing diversity, finally.

Amy Sall with the artist Juliana Huxtable for KENZO x H&M. Photo courtesty of H&M.

The artist, poet, DJ, and now model Juliana Huxtable has been announced as the face of Swedish fashion giant H&M’s collaboration with French fashion house Kenzo, alongside performance artist and musician Oko Ebombo, activist Amy Sall, and make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench.

The campaign for KENZO x H&M, the latest in their long line of amazingly popular high-end collaborations—which in the past have included Viktor and Rolf, Commes des Garçons, and Balmain—shows the models posing covered in high shine, brightly colored zebra print garments.

Oko Ebombo for KENZO x H&M. Photo courtesy H&M

Performance artist and musician Oko Ebombo for KENZO x H&M. Photo courtesy of H&M.

“We can’t wait to share with everyone the world of KENZO x H&M, with all of its creativity, fun and love of fashion,” said Ann-Sofie Johansson, creative advisor at H&M, in a statement released when the collaboration was announced a few days ago.

Juliana Huxtable, Untitled (Psychosocial Stuntin'), 2015. Photo: courtesy the New Museum.

Juliana Huxtable, Untitled (Psychosocial Stuntin’), 2015. Photo courtesy of the New Museum.

Huxtable has risen to fame over the last two years or so, initially as a DJ and subsequently as a performance artist, and trans icon. She is now a key part of the New York and international art scenes, as well as still spinning tunes at glamorous events around the globe.

She was both muse and artist at the New Museum Triennial “Surround Audience” in 2015, as she not only showed a self-portrait, Untitled (Psychosocial Stuntin’) (2015), but was also portrayed in Frank Benson’s sculpture Juliana.

Isamaya FFrench for KENZO x H&M. Photo courtesy H&M

Isamaya Ffrench for KENZO x H&M. Photo courtesy of H&M.

Huxtable is in good company in this campaign. Parisian polymath Ebombo has turned his hand to many creative trades, from being the frontman of band 19 to a dancer, and combines these elements in his artistic practice. Ffrench is beauty editor of fashion and culture magazine i-D and a member of the Theo Adams Company artist collective.

Meanwhile, Sall is the founder of Journal of African Affairs, Critical Thought and Aesthetics SUNU, an upcoming publication whose message will be to “amplify the youth voice and contribute to strengthening their collective consciousness in critical engagement with African affairs, and aesthetics.”

Although all very easy on the eye, this diverse and engaged ensemble is absolutely not your usual selection of faces chosen to advertise international brands, which we applaud. The collection will hit the stores on November 3, 2016, so be ready.


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