100 years of surrealism
For the past seven years, The Dalí Museum has partnered with PCCA at Gibbs High School on Fashion Design at The Dalí, a free program for Tampa Bay area high school students. This year, we took some time to reimagine this program to broaden the reach of all educational programs at the Museum.
Continuing the Museum’s dedication to bringing free experiences to local students with diverse artistic interests, in the interim, previous award-winning Fashion Design at The Dalí students were invited to participate in a condensed form of the program. Rising seniors in the 2024-25 school year will select works of art from The Dalí Museum’s permanent collection to align with the theme “100 Years of Surrealism,” in which students drew on the past century of surreal influence in fashion. Their complete works will be on display for up-close viewing opportunities.
We thank our generous sponsors and enthusiastic community members for their dedication and support of this program. We look forward to the future of Fashion Design at The Dalí as we continue to serve our community through transformative Dalí-inspired events, exhibits and experiences. Please enjoy their designs and look forward to the next installment of Fashion Design at The Dalí.
Elsa Kusek
In a Man’s World, 2025
Capturing 100 years of Surrealism into one individual art piece is an ambitious task. With hundreds of possibilities, I chose to focus on one theme in particular. The 2025 Fashion Design at The Dalí program, while smaller this year, chose to showcase a few seniors and our skills built through the program. For my piece this year, I wanted to highlight some of Dalí’s close colleagues that enabled him to achieve the fame he has today, namely the women in his life.
Focusing closely on artists like Elsa Schiaparelli and Coco Chanel, who worked with Dalí and made their mark on Surrealism over the past 100 years, I was able to find the inspiration and passion to create my modern piece titled, In a Man’s World. I choose to explore the themes of surreal art made by women, for women utilizing secondhand items found In a Man’s World. Basic men’s fashion becomes women’s art as I paid homage to the many female fashionistas who paved the way in women’s fashion including Mary Quant, Rei Kawakubo, Donna Karan, and many more.
I choose to keep my piece sustainable by thrifting shirts and ties from local stores and buying discounted beads. I hand-sewed every bead found on the top with over 300 beads used. The skirt consisted of two men’s button-down shirts buttoned together to make a flattering V-shaped drop waist. Sustainability has been an important constant throughout my years in the Dalí program. Keeping art sustainable is one of the key pillars of Surrealism and really highlights the positivity of this art form.
I hope that In a Man’s World will be a small step for all women in art. I hope it will empower some to see the world differently and realize that even in a system built against them, women have all the resources to change the narrative and continue to make art towards the everlasting fight for equality in all aspects of life.
Libby Lewis
Dream On, 2025
The celebration of 100 Years of the Surrealist Manifesto is an exciting milestone. Not only does it commemorate the genius and magic that comes from Surrealism, but it offers time to think about what impact surrealist art has left on people. On my art journey, I feel that Surrealism allows opportunity for opening up to one’s nightmares and dreams. I feel that by creating surrealist art it allows me to understand a lot of my fears and also ambitions.
This year, I decided to lean into the theme of 100 Years of Surrealism by creating a piece heavily inspired by the rich contrasting colors seen in so many of Dali’s works but specifically in Daddy Longlegs of the Evening – Hope! I was heavily inspired by the thick, defining lines that bring movement throughout the scene. This can be seen through the stitch work done in the sleeves and fold-over boot covers. By incorporating different textures such as the intricate beadwork (which was repurposed from a dress) and the bold knit and crochet, I hope to inspire other artists to go crazy with their current fascinations, something that only surrealist ideas can bring to life. Understanding that not everything has to be cohesive in a world where there are so many differences is something that I hope this design highlights through its individual materials which are used together.
The daddy longlegs in the Dalí painting symbolizes a hope that everyone has in their life and the world around them. I incorporated this into my design by clearly stitching “Dream On” onto the front of the skirt. Hope and Belief are two very powerful things and can be found when people unapologetically dream about a life that could be. It is what has led me to this program and pushed me to create designs that speak to me.
I think traditionally crocheted and knit pieces can be seen as very crafty. As a designer, I try to push the boundaries for how they are perceived and how I can incorporate them into my work. This year, I crocheted granny squares and sewed them into fold-over boot covers to create a cohesive look with the knit top.
Whether it’s experimenting with your own art or admiring the masters, I hope that people can appreciate the 100 Years of Surrealism and explore the dreams it has created.
Dream On.