Established in 1994, Bernadette Corporation stands as an innovative art and fashion collective bridging New York City and Paris. The creative foundation was laid by core members Bernadette van Huy, John Kelsey, and Antek Walzcak. Reverberating with an ethos of performance, fashion, and artistry, Bernadette Corporation’s work uniquely dances between emulation and disruption of corporate realms. Drawing inspiration from an array of influences spanning fashion icons Vivienne Westwood and Malcolm McLaren to cinematic luminary Jean-Luc Godard, their creations carry echoes of the Situationist movement.
Originally brought together to curate soirées at downtown nightclubs, Bernadette Corporation swiftly diversified their pursuits, venturing into the realms of fashion and immersing themselves in the subculture of underground fashion that thrived during the 1990s. Their sartorial creations made their way into the pages of eminent publications such as Harper’s Bazaar, Purple, Visionaire, Index Magazine, and Artforum. Their creative tapestry is interwoven with threads from the “three Bs” – Barthes, Bataille, and Baudrillard – that enriched their artistic palette.
As the late 1990s unfolded, Bernadette Corporation underwent an evolution, morphing into a prolific entity engaged in publishing, film production, and video projects. During this phase, they briefly introduced the magazine “Made in USA,” a nod to the Jean-Luc Godard film of the same name. An apex of their collaborative creativity transpired in 2001 when Bernadette Corporation merged with Le Parti Imaginaire to conceive the film “Get Rid of Yourself.” This cinematic endeavor interweaves both fictional and documentary elements, reflecting their multifaceted approach. Further contributing to their cinematic repertoire are films like “The B.C. Corporate Story,” “Hell Frozen Over,” and additional iterations of “Get Rid of Yourself,” solidifying their stance as boundary-pushers in the world of art and expression.
