‘Natale’ is a figurative dress sculpture mounted on base created by American artist John Petrey in 2017. Made of an undulating aluminum skirt topped with a steel bottle cap bodice, this exquisite dress sculpture mounted on a black colored base is an artistic take on the 1960’s shirtwaist. The black and white colors of the ensemble contrast as beautifully with one another as the texture of the bodice and the smoothness of the skirt. The serpentine shape of the skirt, made of an ingenious arrangement of pieces presenting various patterns, gives a great sense of flowing movement to the sculpture. This modern take on a vintage subject will make it a whimsical focal point in any home, where it will bring a nostalgic touch of elegance.

John Petrey was born in Southern California in 1958 and grew up in the 60’s and 70’s during the time when television was becoming a cultural juggernaut. That experience led him to the world of advertising, via a degree in commercial photography from California’s Brooks Institute of Photography. John spent most of the 1980’s and 90’s doing commercial photography, shooting everything from cars to food to celebrities.

John’s most popular pieces are dresses. Over the years his dresses have been made of a wide variety of elements from asphalt shingles, yardsticks, bottle caps, twigs, playing cards and copper sheeting among others. Today aluminum is probably his most common element as it affords a great deal of flexibility combined with strength.

The vintage nature of his beautiful throwback dresses is important: “I do them purposely in a vintage look because when people look at them, young and old, it reminds them of better times. Women constantly comment to me about ‘Oh, I remember that era,’ and they remember it fondly.”