jada Davis

The High Museum’s Viktor&Rolf Retrospective Collection

By: Jada Davis

The High Museum of Art became the first museum outside of Germany to house the Viktor&Rolf Fashion Statements collection when the exhibition opened Oct. 10. The Dutch duo, who have “explored the boundaries between haute couture and are with breathtaking virtuosity.” The Fashion Statements collection is the first retrospective work by Viktor&Rolf, spanning over three decades of collaborative designing.

The Fashion Statements collection houses over 100 designs, including costumes, dolls, and sketches. Viktor and Rolf accompany the works with narration, in which they discuss the making of their work and what it means to them. The space used for the designs is open, and some of the designs spin for easier 360 reactions.

The High Museum, and its long-standing commitment to educating the public with art, doesn’t stop at traditional art. The Viktor&Rolf ‘Fashion Statements’ collection invites the community to acknowledge the history of fashion and its designers. They design both couture and ready-made clothing, all with avant-garde flair. The most notable collections are Late Stage Capitalism Waltz (2023), Fashion Statements (2019), and Wearable Art (2016).

Viktor&Rolf have been designing together for over thirty years, with significant success in the fashion world. In 1993 Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren founded their fashion label, having met during university. They released their first collection in 1998 called First Couture, and that same year, photographers took the first pictures of Madonna wearing a Viktor&Rolf design.

Viktor&Rolf’s unique runway shows expand on the collection, with the designers treating them as a creative extension. While many may not want to wear the designs, there is still a lot of amazement for the pieces. One viewer of the collection said,” They are crazy as hell, but absolutely genius.” Others discuss the ideals shown throughout Viktor & Rolf’s works.

In an interview with Marek Martek from Numero Netherlands about their process, Viktor&Rolf said, “We’ve become one in a certain way. We’ve developed our language together, so it’s difficult now to say,’ This is yours, this is mine.’” Viktor and Rolf use a one-word theme to create a collection. The creative process is a considerable aspect for most artists. The sketches from Viktor & Rolf link to the creation of art and inspire others to dig deeper into the fashion industry. 

“The High is dedicated to reflecting the diversity of its communities and offering a variety of exhibitions and educational programs that engage visitors with the world of art, the lives of artists, and the creative process.” The Viktor&Rolf collection is the first fashion collection housed at the High Museum since its opening in 1926. With the mindset of reflecting the culture, this collection seems a logical choice for the museum. 

See the collection for yourself at the High Museum of Art, open until Feb. 8, 2026.