Saint Laurent’s Summer 2025 campaign brings artist Francesco Clemente’s vision to life, emphasizing femininity and elegance.
By Fine Arts Editorial Staff
Saint Laurent's Summer 2025 campaign encapsulates Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello's bold vision. The luxury house collaborates with renowned artist Francesco Clemente, whose striking portraits transform the collection into an exploration of both femininity and artistic expression.
The campaign stars Zoë Kravitz, Isabella Ferrari, Penelope Ternes, and Ajus Samuel. Through Clemente’s evocative brushstrokes, these individuals are reimagined as powerful, symbolic figures—radiating an elegant yet intimate strength that aligns seamlessly with the Saint Laurent ethos.
Clemente, whose career blossomed in the 1970s, has long blurred the lines between the spiritual and material, feminine and masculine. From his New York beginnings in the 1980s to his collaborations with cultural titans like Andy Warhol, Allen Ginsberg, and filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, his work transcends boundaries. It was in the 1990s that Vaccarello first encountered his art, seeing an immediate resonance between Clemente’s mastery of color and the vibrancy of his own fashion collections.
“I could perfectly imagine my collection being portrayed by his poetic use of colors,” explains Vaccarello, highlighting the organic connection between the two creatives.
The campaign imagery pulses with the artist's signature style: figures imbued with a dreamy yet commanding presence, set against warm, dynamic backgrounds. His philosophy is embodied in his words: "There is only one language of form, and it is the same as the language of tenderness."
Behind the scenes, glimpses of Clemente’s studio show the process behind the creation of the large-scale portraits. The raw, industrial backdrop contrasts with the refined elegance of the images themselves, evoking the timeless duality Saint Laurent has mastered since its inception—avant-garde creativity paired with classic sophistication.
This collaboration marks yet another chapter in Vaccarello's ongoing dialogue with the art world. By bringing Clemente’s artistic lens into the fold, Saint Laurent reinforces its commitment to exploring the intersection of art and fashion, not just as a means of marketing, but as cultural artifacts that define the brand's elevated status within the luxury landscape.
The Summer 2025 campaign is a testament to the brand’s enduring belief that at its highest level, fashion transcends clothing, becoming an art form in its own right. This philosophy, deeply ingrained in Saint Laurent’s legacy, continues to evolve under Vaccarello’s thoughtful direction.