Celebrating ‘the Starlet in All of Us,’ ‘ITgirl’ Art Show to Open in March

Feb 11, 2013
Tara Carberry

In celebration of New York Fashion Week, Holly Suzanne Rader is debuting her solo exhibition titled “ITgirl” at the Glen Goldbaum 72 Salon in Red Bank, NJ. The collection features four paper dress sculptures and 12 mixed media paintings, and celebrates the mystique of the glamorous “it girl” through colorful interpretations of starlets.

“My upcoming ‘ITgirl’ show features more iconic pop imagery, bright drips of paint, polka dots, glitter, candy compositions as well as luminous floor lamp dress sculptures which are new to my collection,” said Rader. In her work, Rader looks for ways to “make fashion into art” and this new exhibition will introduce exciting developments to her process.

Speaking of the mixed media dresses, Rader explained, “For the first time, my sculptures will be functional as well as elegant. ‘ITgirl’ celebrates the starlet in us all, the girl who lights up a room with her confidence, her flirty nature, her inner glow.”

This will be Rader’s second show at the Goldbaum salon, which is a short trip from Manhattan, and the artist enjoys this “alternative setting,” where she finds that “the edgy and fashionable atmosphere and clientele lends itself to my work.”

According to Rader, she has “been an artist as long as I've been able to take a crayon to my parent's wallpaper.” She attended Savannah College of Art and Design before traveling abroad to France—which had a lasting impact on her work. Yet, her artistic roots go back even farther to her childhood on a farm and her mother who always encouraged her to explore her creative impulses. She said, “Growing up in the rural South gave me an appreciation for antiquated beauty, romantic sentimentalities and a natural curiosity for a life in the big city.”

With the opening of “ITgirl,” she allows this aesthetic sensibility to shine through while presenting a unique interpretation of feminine beauty. The exhibition will run from March 2 through May 25, with an opening reception scheduled on March 2 from 7pm to 10pm.