In 1994, then-Dior designer Gianfranco Ferre created a handbag that would go on to make history. Small, almost square, with two rounded handles and the house's signature cannage quilting, it soon became a favorite of Diana, Princess of Wales, and was subsequently named the "Lady Dior." since 2016, the french maison has invited artists each year - among them Judy Chicago, Gilbert & George, and Faith Ringgold - to reinterpret this iconic handbag in their own artistic language. For the anniversary edition of "Dior lady art," ten artists from around the world once again used the bag as their canvas. Alongside Eva Jospin and Lee Ufan is Sophia Loeb, born in Sao Paulo in 1997 and now based in London. Dior first approached her two years ago, after being introduced through a collector. Four "Dior Lady Art" bags were ultimately created: "I wanted them to reflect different aspects of my artistic practice while also incorporating the incredible materials and techniques that Dior was able to bring into the process." the results - a hand-painted golden bag, one in metallic red, one with rich relief embroidery, and one made from printed technical fabric - echo the vibrant colors and motifs characteristic of Loeb's work. Her practice, she explains, aims to "highlight the beauty of life and creation" while reminding us that this beauty "also comes with responsibility: to care for one another and for our planet." Loeb is used to expressing herself on very different scales, from small to monumental. "Still, designing the 'Lady Dior' bags was a completely different experience from working on a canvas. I had to think about the physical structure of the bag itself- how certain elements of my work could be translated and placed on a three-dimensional object." it was a challenge she gladly embraced. "What I love about making art 'wearable' is that it allows people who might not be able to acquire a painting to connect with my work in a deeply personal way. A bag is something intimate - it becomes part of daily life, part of one's identity and self-expression. For me, it's incredibly meaningful that my paintings can exist not only in someone's home but also accompany them as they move through the world."
