You find yourself driving down U.S. 90 through a barren, empty area in West Texas when you come across what looks like a Prada store. Trust me when I say you’re not seeing a desert mirage. Prada Marfa isn’t a store it’s a permanent sculpture by the Berlin artists Michael Elmgree and Ingar Dragset. The space is actually in Valentine, Texas, about 25 miles outside Marfa. The installation came about in October 2005 and its minimalist design is a theme as you make your way to the art and rancher town of Marfa. The sculpture will never function as an actual Prada shop because you can’t open the front door. I tried. The sculpture was originally never intended to undergo any repairs, so that may slowly degrade into the natural desert landscape. Unfortunately, the project experiences some vandalism requiring them to stray from their original plan. The piece was meant to hint at the growth of luxury brands in fashion and show how buying and selling has become a huge part of culture.
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Prada in West Texas
You find yourself driving down U.S. 90 through a barren, empty area in West Texas when you come across what looks like a Prada store. Trust me when I say you’re not seeing a desert mirage. Prada Marfa isn’t a store it’s a permanent sculpture by the Berlin artists Michael Elmgree and Ingar Dragset. The space is actually in Valentine, Texas, about 25 miles outside Marfa. The installation came about in October 2005 and its minimalist design is a theme as you make your way to the art and rancher town of Marfa. The sculpture will never function as an actual Prada shop because you can’t open the front door. I tried. The sculpture was originally never intended to undergo any repairs, so that may slowly degrade into the natural desert landscape. Unfortunately, the project experiences some vandalism requiring them to stray from their original plan. The piece was meant to hint at the growth of luxury brands in fashion and show how buying and selling has become a huge part of culture.
