Donna McCullough

The dress sculptures of Donna McCullough are expressions in contrast. Steel, scrap metal, and found objects (often industrial) are forged into feminine silhouettes, lacking only the women whose presence they suggest.  The series, originating in 1995 and initially inspired by Edward Degas’ “Little Dancer”, was born of her experiences navigating the corporate world and the “armor” that woman need to go to battle. But over the years the pieces have begun to explore the female psyche more broadly, turning on its head the notion of a dress as a traditional symbol of femininity. 

In 2012 McCullough received the "Recognition of Excellence" from the James Renwick Alliance, a national non-profit that supports the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery, celebrating the achievements of America's craft artists. Previous exhibitions include the Corcoran Museum of Art, the Art Museum of the Americas, the International Museum of the Horse, the Grounds for Sculpture, and the United States Botanic Garden.