Joana Vasconcelos presents Valentino Garavani exhibition at MAAT

The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT) in Lisbon has inaugurated the exhibition ‘VENUS – Valentino Garavani through the eyes of Joana Vasconcelos’ as part of its 10th-anniversary celebrations. The exhibition creates a dialogue between contemporary sculpture and high fashion, featuring over 40 haute couture and ready-to-wear pieces from the Valentino Garavani estate alongside works by the Portuguese artist.

Vasconcelos’ contributions include the monumental textile sculpture ‘Valkyrie Venus’ (2025), as well as her iconic works such as ‘Marilyn’—high-heeled shoes made from pots and pans—and ‘Coração Independente #3’, a heart sculpture constructed from plastic cutlery. The project is an adaptation of an original concept developed by the Valentino Garavani Foundation and Giancarlo Giammetti in partnership with Valentino S.p.A.

The artist describes her process as decontextualizing everyday objects, such as irons or car headlights, and recontextualizing them into the realm of luxury. The exhibition is hosted in Galleries 1 and 2 of the museum.