Mette Ulland is an artist and designer, who creates playful and exploratory wearable art. Her work dives into her Northern Midwest roots, poking humor at the things she loves about so-called “mundane” Middle America, while uplifting those around her. Her garments range from ready-to-wear to fully experimental forms. Utilizing ready to wear pattern making techniques, she creates large, comical sculptural forms. She makes use of repetitive elements and shapes, keeping her work visually contained and orderly through the use of clean lines and edges. Mette hopes that anyone can view her work and feel a sense of playfulness that leads one to an open, creative way of thinking about their immediate surroundings.
Look 1, At the Lake
photo by Katie Murray, modeled by Rocci
Look 2, At the Lake
photo by Katie Murray, modeled by Maryam
Look 3, At the Lake
photo by Katie Murray, modeled by Justine Guzman
Look 4, At the Lake
photo by Katie Murray, modeled by Maya
Look 5, At the Lake
photo by Katie Murray, modeled by Freia
Look 6, At the Lake
photo by Katie Murray, modeled by Ximena Villalobos Mares
Look 8, At the Lake
photo by Katie Murray, modeled by Lulu
Look 8, At the Lake
photo by Katie Murray, modeled by Lulu
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“At the Lake ” centers around my memories. Absurd and humorous experiences of spending time at my family cabin in Northern Minnesota. While these reflections make me laugh, I see the past and present in a dream state as I float on the lake causing me to look forward to the future. In pulling from the past, the present, and conceptualizing about the future, I am gathering motifs, colors, textures, movement, and shapes from photos and vernacular objects, processing them through the sylvan memories and lenses of summer’s timeless. Lifejackets, sleeping bags, pool noodles, innertubes, and boats meld to create meaningful messages of the past and present to my future self. The shapes of the garments contain lake country elements, such as the bow of a boat, and the use of actual inflatable innertubes as key components of the garment. Many of these “Up-North” moments are shared with family who, just like my garments, are loud and fill space with possibilities. My hope is that this collection will make those who have experienced the lake directly as well as those who have never yet had the opportunity, feel the bliss of floating on a fun noodle on the lake or riding on a boat all day, as well as the terror of the dogs possibly getting skunked on shore, a sense of sentiment and excitement for more.