The Whitney Museum of American Art has announced an upcoming exclusive retail collaboration with Gap and the Estate of Roy Lichtenstein, in celebration of the Museum's highly anticipated fall exhibition, Roy Lichtenstein: Like New.
The "Gap - Lichtenstein - Whitney" collaboration brings together Gap's longstanding connection to American culture and style with the work of one of the most celebrated and defining artists of the Pop art movement. Drawing from Roy Lichtenstein's iconic visual language, which spanned across four decades, the limited-edition collection reimagines his work across a wide variety of classic Gap pieces, including hoodies and sweatshirts, button-downs, t-shirts and accessories, offering a new way for audiences to engage with his work and legacy beyond the Museum.
The launch coincides with the opening week of Roy Lichtenstein: Like New, a major exhibition bringing together more than 130 works spanning six decades. Co-curated by Meg Onli, Nancy and Fred Poses Curator at the Whitney Museum, and artist and guest curator Alex Da Corte, the exhibition is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to see some of Lichtenstein's most iconic artworks all together and offers a fresh perspective on the artist's explorations of mass media, image circulation, duplication and popular culture.
"At the Whitney, we're passionate about using retail to bring conversations from our galleries beyond the Museum's walls. Thanks to Gap's broad reach and global audience, the legacy of Lichtenstein will be exposed to millions of people in new and exciting ways. This artist's practice is deeply connected to popular culture and the process of reproduction," said Jack Sachs, Director of Retail & Licensing at the Whitney. "We developed this collection with that in mind and hope that rings true to its viewers. At the core, we wanted to pose the question: what does Roy's work mean to consumer culture today? The careful custodians at the Estate of Roy Lichtenstein and the passionate and curious design team at Gap made perfect partners every step of the way."
"Crystallizing the brilliance, joy and wit of Roy Lichtenstein into a wearable collection celebrating the Whitney Museum's exhibition Roy Lichtenstein: Like New made for an ideal partnership with another American icon, Gap," said Frank Avila-Goldman, Executive Director of Arts and Intellectual Property at the Estate of Roy Lichtenstein. "The Gap collection celebrates the fun and accessible spirit of Roy Lichtenstein, and we believe the quality and design will become lasting hallmarks of three American classics made accessible across many generations."
Images courtesy of The Whitney Museum of American Art, Gap, and the Estate of Roy Lichtenstein