Davis Museum Shoot
This Spring, W.Collective collaborated with Wellesley College’s art publication, Pentimento, to exhibit this relationship—how life and fashion come to life as reproductions of art. We asked Pentimento’s Editor-in-Chief, Regina Gallardo, Pentimento’s Section Editor, Zoe Taylor, and W.Collective member, Breanna White, to pick one of their favorite pieces to recreate through what they wear.
When we think of the long-standing relationship between art and fashion, shape, form, color, and social, historical, and cultural references are just a few words that come to mind. Fine art has had a significant impact on fashion; Salvador Dalí’s work inspired Elsa Schiaparelli’s 1937 Lobster dress, and Damien Hirst’s Etymology series led to a collaboration between him and Alexander McQueen’s team to design scarves in 2013.
Regina Gallardo '23
Pentimento
Regina Gallardo’s piece, Ex-voto of Josefa Peres Maldonado (Aguascalientes, Mexico, 1777. Oil on canvas. 27 1/4 × 38 1/2 in. (69.2 × 97.8 cm). Davis Museum at Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, 2004.10.), depicts nine people attending to Maldonado, as she undergoes an operation for breast cancer while lying in bed. Ex-votos, derived from the Latin term votive objects, are “devotional paintings commemorating the commissioner’s miraculous salvation from an illness or tragic event.” While ex-votos originated in Europe, they became widely popular in Latin America and can take many forms—such as paintings, plaques, medals, and more. This piece includes religious icons appearing on the altar and walls, and the inscription below the piece details the tragic ending of Maldonado. While the surgeon removed cancerous tumors from her breast, she eventually died from other accidents. We recreate this piece with Regina wearing a light blue dress, as she stands facing to her left, representing one of the women surrounding Maldonado.
Breanna White '22 & Zoe Taylor '23
W.Collective & Pentimento
Zoe Taylor’s and Breanna White’s piece, Loading by Tim Okamura (Canada, 2011, Oil and spray paint on canvas. 88 in. x 92 in. (223.5 cm x 233.7 cm). Davis Museum at Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, 2011.15.)), draws attention to the contrast between two Black women holding hands. While both are painted with their natural hairstyles, they differ in their attire, one woman wearing darker colors while the other woman wears a white short-sleeved cardigan. Behind them is a loading dock that has the words “Loading” in large, white letters and a white dove in the upper left corner. Standing tall with each other’s hand tied together, the depiction of these two women inspired our reproduction of this painting, modeled by Zoe and Breanna.
created and directed by serena chan ‘23 & ana rubin ‘24
produced by stella ho ‘22 & regina gallardo ‘23
modeled and styled by breanna white ‘22, regina gallardo ‘23 & zoe taylor ‘23
photographed by serena chan ‘23 & ana rubin ‘24
edited by serena chan ‘23 & ana rubin ‘24
makeup by zoe yu-shin chang ‘25
special thanks to the davis museum