Les Abattoirs, a contemporary art museum located in Toulouse, France, has opened an expansive exhibition centering Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. Titled “L’imagination au Pouvoir” (“Imagination at Work”), nearly 300 works are on display spanning clothing and accessories, collages, drawings, and design objects. The designer, whose work stands at the intersection of art and fashion, worked closely with Scenographer Pascal Rodriguez to stage the exhibition. 

From collaborations with Lady Gaga, Keith Haring, and Robert Mapplethorpe to his 1997 contributions to World Youth Day, Castelbajac’s expression has taken many forms over the years. The exhibition looks back at six decades worth of artistic work.

His striking use of primary colors set Castelbajac’s work apart, intended to evoke imagery of slogans, logos, and cartoons — markers of pop culture. The artist also attributes his signature employment of red, blue, and yellow to his appreciation for medieval heraldry. 

In his clothes, he leans into theatrical, joyous designs. Objects such as teddy bears and balls of yarn were refashioned into wearable sculptures. At 18, he made his first coats out of blankets.  

“I have always had a particular attachment, a soft spot you might say, for modest materials, natural weaving with a rough appearance, with uncertain origins, sometimes from textile waste,” Castelbajac said in a statement.  

For Castelbajac, fashion is always an artistic medium. His pieces combine different forms, such as collage work, drawings, photographs, and a use of sculptural materials. Visitors to the Les Abattoirs are welcomed with colorful banners and cut-out shapes, an installation designed by Castelbajac. The exhibition will be on view until August 23, 2026.