Two of Betsy Podlach’s paintings were Licensed by Marni Inc on March 2018 including original painting “Kiss” sold to creative director, Marni Francesco Rossi. These images made into fabric according to the creative goals of Marni and his team to then use to create several of the outfits and clothing items that made up the Marni Inc Spring 2019 menswear collection. This fashion was presented in the runway shows in Milan, NY and elsewhere in 2018-2019 before being available along with other items incorporating these paintings (images) for purchase this year.

Mr. Francesco Rossi, who found and chose Podlach’s work directly and independently, also personally purchased the original painting that one of the images was licensed from.

Francesco Risso, creative director of Marni. Photograph: Hugh Findletar/Marni

“Cue grungy colourful sporty layers with swingy cropped sweat pants, loose printed pieces featuring bodies created by German artist Florian Hetz and American painter Betsy Podlach or oversized bomber jackets featuring the likes of 90s rave daisies spliced with utilitarian brown nylon. Put together, it all felt a bit wonky – a perspective enhanced, of course, by sitting on an exercise ball. “I do like men more messed up than uptight,” Risso says of the underlying grunginess in his menswear. “One of the things I think I do is introduce elements that are unsettling. But that’s where I get excited.”