By Leah Goryachkovsky

Isabel is a General Studies student whose life journey has always been surrounded by choosing creative outlets of expression. She first started venturing into the art world as a four-year-old, exploring her creativity through crafts. Four years later, she and her sister, Caroline, then founded their first, lesser-known business, Art-tastic. It was a commission-based drawing business, with clients expanding to just her grandma, hence it being more low-key. Fast forward a couple of years, Isabel began experimenting with the medium of clay in the summer of ‘23. The beauty of using clay, Isabel says, is the variability of expectations for the final product. “You never know how the clay is going to look until it’s put onto the canvas.” Each work evokes a new emotion.  

Studio Prose is the name of Isabel’s art studio. Prose holds significance to her because of its definition of without form, but also because of her Creative Writing studies here at Columbia. But what is all of this for? Isabel connects her work to the French saying l’art pour l’art, which translates to art for art’s sake. Her interpretation of this phrase is that one’s appreciation of art should never be contingent on one’s understanding of it. In fact, she doesn’t name her pieces. Instead, those who purchase or commission works for accessible prices get the chance to name the works themselves because everyone experiences art differently. “I want it to mean what they want it to mean to them.” 

Art can often seem intimidating and isolating to those not trained in the field. As an artist who hasn’t been formally disciplined in her craft, Isabel is especially focused on bridging the gap for the accessibility of art. We’re here to move past the elitism in the art space. Art is a place to be expressive and fun, which is exactly what Isabel’s work is all about.

This New York Fashion Week season, Isabel partnered with her friend, Risa Elledge, to create a fashion show of their own, a testament to their shared vision and creative synergy. With Risa’s initial suggestion of collaborating on a single piece, Isabel expanded the concept to create a cohesive collection of four. The result was the debut of TOCCA on February 10th, a meticulously crafted showcase born from just two weeks of planning and approximately 75 hours of dedicated work molding clay into wearable art. This artistic endeavor seamlessly merged the tactile medium of clay with the fluidity of fabric, demonstrating Isabel’s skillful manipulation of materials. The garments, with their solidified clay foundations and gracefully draped fabrics, not only captivated the eye but also engaged with the dynamic interplay of design and movement, embodying the thoughtful fusion of fashion and artistry. 

The show commenced with a striking red clay bodice complemented by a flowing red satin skirt, a masterful juxtaposition of textures that accentuated the garment’s intricacies while harmoniously completing the ensemble. Interestingly,as an insider coop, the skirt was ingeniously fashioned from a repurposed tablecloth hurriedly requisitioned during the show’s preparation. Per the ethos of ‘l’art pour l’art’, the necessity to adapt became an opportunity for creative spontaneity, exemplifying the spirit of making the most of available resources in a playful and inventive manner.

The other piece in the show was a sultry black piece with a design evoking the iconic aesthetic of medieval armor with a contemporary twist. The meticulously crafted contours, reminiscent of chiseled abs, imbue the garment with a sense of strength and empowerment, blending the feminine silhouette of a bodice with the sculptural masculinity of an eight-pack. It embodies a sense of understated elegance through the simplicity of color choice but commanding nature in its subtle yet impactful statement. Drawing parallels to Schiaparelli’s innovative corsets from the Spring 2021 collection, which similarly featured abdominal detailing, suggests a thematic exploration of “hard chic” within women’s wear, wherein traditional notions of femininity intersect with elements of strength and resilience. Through such nuanced design choices, Isabel invites viewers to reconsider conventional standards of beauty and to embrace the multifaceted nature of contemporary femininity.

Isabel’s ability to seamlessly merge mediums and transcend boundaries speaks not only to her talent but also to her unwavering commitment to making art accessible to all. As we marvel at her creations, we are reminded that art is not merely a product but a transformative journey—an invitation to explore, dream, and celebrate the myriad hues of human expression. 

I look forward to seeing what comes next!