Texas Decides Prada Art Is Okay
The Prada Marfa stands out, but not like the Italian luxury brand’s stores in the world’s major fashion capitals: It’s surrounded by desolate prairie, alone in a plot of dirt along a rural highway in the West Texas desert. The art installation has become a must-see for curious tourists since it was erected nine years ago along Highway 90, about 40 miles from the small artsy town of Marfa. Scandinavian artists Elmgreen & Dragset wanted the mock-up store, the size of shack but with Prada shoes and bags inside, to be a critique of the luxury goods industry. But it was threatened when it was deemed an illegal roadside advertisement. After nearly a year of negotiations, the Texas Department of Transportation says that it has reached an agreement that will save the Prada Marfa by classifying it as a museum. And High Culture breathes a sigh of relief.
