Martin Margiela's “Blinds” is His First Monumental Outdoor Sculpture

Conceptualized as part of Middleheim Museum’s Art in the City project.

Martin Margiela has unveiled a new piece of artwork in the heart of Schuttershofstraat, Antwerp. After leaving the world of fashion, the acclaimed designer has turned his focus to the art sphere and has officially made his debut as an artist in 2020.

Titled “Blinds,” the new work is Margiela’s first outdoor sculpture, taking on a monolithic and circular structure with a reflective finish. Conceptualized as part of Middleheim Museum’s Kunst in de Stad (Art in the City) project, the installation draws reference to window blinds, but with an added layer of mystery that befits Margiela’s enigmatic tendencies.

According to Middleheim Museum, “The reflective artwork also nods to the shop windows lining the street. Passersby see what’s on display, and also a glimpse of themselves,” thus examining the idea of “seeing and being seen, of allure and glimmer, and the unpredictability of city life.”