COLOR FORMS: Burberry is in a painterly mood, and has tapped the New York-based artist Sarah Morris to reimagine the brand’s store facade in the Miami Design District to mark the opening of Art Basel Miami Beach.
Morris is known for her abstract geometric paintings and cinematic films, and her works explore urban environments, architecture and power structures.
She is known for translating cityscapes into vibrant visual systems, and has exhibited internationally, with works held in major collections including the Museum of Modern Art in New York City and Centre Pompidou in Paris.
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For the collaboration, she created a reproduction of her work “Department of Water and Power,” which depicts the midcentury modern building and civic landmark in Los Angeles. The original work forms part of her Los Angeles series of paintings.
The version she did for Burberry measures 31 feet by 27 feet, and shows her colors superimposed over the Burberry check, a fun subversion of the British house’s signature pattern.
Jonathan Kiman, Burberry’s chief marketing officer, said Morris’ “thoughtful, dynamic and graphic work aligns with Burberry’s spirit of exploration and innovation. Presenting this installation during Art Basel allows us to celebrate creativity and connect with our community in a meaningful distinctly Burberry way.”
Morris said: “I’ve always loved Burberry since I was a child. To be able to play with their signature check in my own way on their actual building is fantastic.”
Burberry has a history of supporting the arts. In 2024, it was the headline sponsor of the British Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale, and in the past has worked with the Royal Academy of Arts on events surrounding its summer exhibition. In 2023 it supported Sarah Lucas’ show “Happy Gas” at Tate Britain.
As reported, Burberry is sponsoring the refurbishment of the Fashion Gallery at the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington as part of a multiyear partnership.
The Fashion Gallery shut earlier this year and will reopen in spring 2027 after a much-needed overhaul. From then, it will be known as The Burberry Gallery.
According to Burberry, the plan is to create a “participatory space” aimed at enhancing visitors’ experience of the V&A’s extensive fashion collection.
