Spring/Summer 22: The Artist’s Studio

For Spring/Summer 22, we drew inspiration from contemporary artists who are widely regarded as masters in their respective fields. Comprised of optical and sunglass styles, each model evokes the style and colouring of the artist’s work which has informed its design, be that Ralph Steadman’s evocative illustrations or David Hockney’s signature use of saturated hues. Read more about this season’s key styles and artists that inspired them.

The Gonzo

Inspired by the transformative artwork of Ralph Steadman produced in the 1970s, culminating in his seminal work ‘Leaving Las Vegas’ with Hunter S. Thompson. The term ‘Gonzo’ journalism was coined, favouring the subjective, interactive style of reporting, rather than the traditional objective view. With wide arching contours and a heavy browline combined with dark and light colouring, the 1397 reflects the tenets of his work, and the era of experimental fusion of art, journalism and music.

Unflinching colourways in our sunglass styles of this frame feel authentic to the experimental spirit of those who inspired this frame. This is especially seen in the Green on Black and Purple on Nude Pink, the latter still managing to feel completely unisex.

The Iconoclast

Inspired by the work of David Hockney, one of Britain’s most accomplished modern artists and renowned round glasses enthusiast. Big, round and bold, the 1396 plays on Hockney’s use of vivid colours like Russian Blue, Deep Yellow and Butterscotch. Hockney is pictured wearing an archived Cutler and Gross frame in the early 80s, which served as a template for the new model 1386. An iconic piece from our collection, reworked with new technologies and state of the art processes, in our dedicated Atelier in Cadore, Italy.


The Collector

Taking inspiration from the eclectic tastes of long-time Cutler and Gross customer, and collector of modern art – Elton John. Elton has a collection of over 300 Cutler and Gross frames, his love affair with Cutler and Gross spanning over 40 years. Since the beginning of the ’90s, Elton John began collecting art that today numbers more than 2,500 works.

His art collection is said to be distinguished by its exceptional quality, range and depth. Each piece of Cutler and Gross is produced by artisanal craftspeople in our factory, with each one being unique and worthy of any serious eyewear collector. Square and oversized, the 1398 is extravagant and the unisex showpiece of the collection, with the addition of colours such as Bone and Brushstroke. Blackout is the perfect frame for the
day after the night before.

The Neo-Minimalist

Inspired by the work of minimalist artists such as Sean Skully, whose ground-breaking work, challenges the way we view art, stripping it back to its most fundamental elements. Focusing on form and colouring to convey the message and emotion of the artist in the most minimal of brushstrokes. The 1399 espouses these principles, working the frame to
its essentials, with internal milling to conserve weight, thinner outlines and weight-saving properties.

A rounded square with stepped browline and high line temples. Featuring
oyster pins and beautiful semi-opaque colourings such as Smoke Quartz and Aviator Blue (familiar to collectors of Cutler and Gross).

The Obsessive

Inspired by the work and obsessive attention to detail of Yayoi Kasuma, the 9298 is the result of constant development and our obsession with constant improvements. Honing an existing style in the collection (1298) and reworking it to make it more wearable and noticeable in its colouring.

Featuring triple compass star rivets and a feminine rounded cat eye shape, the original 1298 is downsized to a more modern outline. Internal milling gives the 9298 a weight saving advantage over its predecessor, while 8mm premium acetate construction gives a stable structure for lens mounting.

Explore the full Spring/Summer 22 collection here.