Lucky #13: KMAC Couture's Unstoppable Spell On The Runway
- Information VOICE_TRIBUNE
- 7 minutes ago
- 5 min read
By Alisha Proffitt • Photos by Kathryn Harrington • Editorial Feature Sponsored by Laura Rice Lenihan Sotheby’s Realtors
KMAC Couture 2025 went full throttle this year, pulling in nearly 100 artists who didn’t blink at the idea of bad luck. The theme: Lucky #13. Held April 19 under a stretch of white tents on Main Street, the runway carved right through downtown Louisville and drew in the city’s most style-savvy, art-hungry crowd.
KMAC Couture: Art Walks the Runway is a wearable art runway show and the signature fundraiser for KMAC Contemporary Art Museum. 2025 was the 13th edition of the much-anticipated event and celebrated with a curatorial theme asking artists to use “Lucky #13” as the inspiration for their looks. 99 artists (including 20 high school students) participated, creating 82 looks that walked the runway and 8 designs in the cocktail tent. The artists didn’t hold back.
Somewhere between the exploding mirrors, the dragon-scaled bodysuits, and the glowing maneki-neko headpiece that looked like it could summon wealth from another dimension, it hit us: KMAC Couture 2025 was a fashion-fueled explosion of creativity, and we were lucky (pun intended) to be in the blast radius. Louisville’s most electrifying art runway show didn’t tiptoe around superstition. All of the artists brought their A-game, some local legends, others fresh chaos agents ready to make their mark. The theme opened the floodgates for designs drenched in folklore, ritual, and unapologetic weirdness.
Looks were inspired by symbols of luck from every corner of the globe. Roman goddesses, Chinese dragons, Egyptian ankhs, four-leaf clovers, rabbit’s feet. It was a fever dream filtered through tulle, vinyl, and raw artistic genius.
The crowd? Draped in white, neutral tones, trying not to steal the spotlight from the runway, but failing, gloriously. Louisville’s finest showed out. The energy under the tent was electric, shoulder-to-shoulder with creators, collectors, museum patrons, and the locals who’ve been holding Louisville’s art scene together for decades.
And when the final model let out a scream and vanished behind the curtain, the party didn’t end. The museum became a playground. Artists toasted with patrons, and everyone basked in the afterglow of an absolutely phenomenal show.
The show certainly cast a spell on us at the VOICE-TRIBUNE, and so we asked, “How can fans of KMAC support its mission?”
“WE NEED YOUR HELP!
If you believe in and enjoy celebrating creativity, please consider partnering with us by investing in the work of the Museum. Arts and cultural institutions are important to our community. Any amount you are able to give helps us continue to provide artistic experiences like this everyday!
If KMAC Couture is your starting point with us, we invite you to take part in the dynamic exhibitions and programming that the Museum offers. Again, thank you for your support and we hope to see you again soon.”
SUPPORT KMAC HERE
RUNWAY SHOW 1ST ACT:
View Article HERE For Artist/Model Credits
1. Lucky Cards | Artist: Deji Lasisi Model: Alicia Antonia
2. Fire & Stone | Artist: Deji LasisiModel: Chandler Crenshaw
3. Mirror, Mirror | Artist: Danika Isdahl Model: Natalie Wollenzien
4. Luck of the Irish | Artists: Nupur Anand & Elissa DonovanModel: Ani Mack
5. Jade Hare | Artists: Angela Davis & Tammy CarpaniniModel: Madeline Carnahan
6. Unpredictable | Artist: ArianaHammond | Model: Brianna Bethune
7. Living Jewels | Artists: Zaylie Barber & Cielle ChappellModel: Marley Bowman
8. The Gorgon Sisters: Fortune’sGuardians | Artists: Whitney Mattingly& Meredith Greenwell Models: Cirara Johnson, Ally Greer, Sydney Shrewsbury
9. Charm Strings| Artist: Rachel Schmidt Model: Jay Hashagen
10. Arachne| Artists: Maddie Ford &Abbie Harlow | Model: Maddie Ford
11. Luck in the Skies | Artist: Quinn(Audrey) Block | Model: Tionna Tells
12. Ultramarine Thirteen | Artists: Elias Feghaly & The Barret BabesModel: Crissa Candler
13. Wired Up! | Artist: Moonhe BaikModel: Kayla Prather
14. Wired up! | Artist: Moonhe BaikModel: Rose Sierra
15. Lucky #3 | Arist: Isaac St. Thomas Model: Sarah Belles Simmons
16. Luck in the Afterlife | Artist: Brady Irwin | Model: Felicia Orgel
17. The Lovers | Artists: Cyra Neimat, Deena Neimat, Bren Willis, GerriWillis | Models: Cyra Neimat, Bren Willis
18. Lucky Luna | Artist: JaymeeAngton Model: Raynia Goodman
19. Pokerface | Artist: Emma DeanModel: Virginia Furse
20. Neko-Sama | Artist: Satin SultanModel: Kylie Moxley
21. Farming 13 Miles From Town Artist: Mallory Quisenberry | Model:Lauren Kiser
22. Unstoppable | Artist: Sara JaneCoakley | Model: Madelynne Koury
23. The Dragonfly | Artist:Madeline HurtModel: Leakel Potter
24. Catching Dreams | Artist &Model: Elizabeth Grider
25. Lucky Shooter | Artist & Model:Grey Vanderwoude
26. Eyes in the Back of My Head Artist: Karen Stout | Model:Audrey Scheller
27. Cursed Cat-Our | Artist & Model: Thomas Dewson
28. Momento Glori | Artist & Model: Kassandra Johnson
29. Butterfly Blessings | Artist: LauraPatterson | Model: Lyndsey Popham
30. Pollinator Partner | Artist: LauraPatterson | Model: Tate Crenshaw
31. My Lucky Butterfly | Artist & Model: Kendall Robbins
32. 13th Moon-Walker is a Woman! Artists: Vanessa Ruppe, Susan Rainey Maguire, Ann GrissomModel: Ellie Ruppe
33. Broken in Time | Artist& Model: Maya Rawlins
34. Fruitful EndeavorsArist: Annie YuanModel: Mika Covington
RUNWAY SHOW 2ND ACT:
View Article HERE For Artist/Model Credits
35. Fare TrediciArtist: Alynn ShermanModel: Leigh Anne Albrechta
36. The Widow | Artist & Model:Muny Mok
37. Luckiest Break | Artists & Models: Katie Ensor & Molly Ensor
38. Haint Blue | Artist: ChristaWatson Reyes | Model: A’nya Winburn
39. Charmed | Artist: Cathy WadeCoakley | Model: Tayler Chandler
40. Lucky Cat | Artist: Kris ThompsonModel: Christina Floro
41. Reflections 1 | Artists: Will DeLozier & Beckett BarnesModel: Will DeLozier
42. Reflections 2 | Artists:Will DeLozier & Beckett BarnesModel: Beckett Barnes
43. Chasking Rainbows & Pretty SkiesArist: Mariam AdnanModel: Alania Eifler
44. The Myth Fo the Jinn, “Air& Fire”Artist & Model: Sophia Wilson
45. Never to be Told | Artist: Elizabeth Haigh | Model: Kenyatta Bosman
46. The Black Cat’s Bad Luck is Managed with Prescriptions | Artist & Model: Ashley Sims
47. Franken-ToyArtist: Edward TaylorModel: Dezaray Nicks
48. Wheel of Fortune | Artists: SaraSalmon & SCZ | Model: SC Baker
49. Knock on Wood | Artist & Model: Kaylee Bliss
50. Reflection | Artist: Jes AllenModel: Judah Hansford
51. Lucky StarArtist: Maddie DonohueModel: Lauren Gardner
52. God Luck- Low Key UntetheredArtists: Trevor DeCuir, ErikaMargaret, Laura Bernethia | Model: Mercy Kiss (not pictured)
53. God Luck- Bound by Virtue | Artists: Trevor DeCuir, Erika Margaret, Laura Bernethia | Model: John Browning
54. Obscure Wylde HarrietArtist: MOCOCO | Model: Samantha Jean Moore
55. The Luck of the Ace | Artist & Model: Abby Neltner
56. As Rare as a Pearl | Artist &Model: Kate Grissom
57. Thunder Strike Mage | Artist &Model: Liz Klemenz
58. Spotted Lady | Artist &Model: Piper Jaeger
59. Spell Bound- Journey From the Black Forest | Artist & Model: Susan Rhema
60. The Spirit of Luck Itself- FortunaArtist: Elizabeth Windisch | Model: Mackenzie Wandel of Louisville Ballet
61. The Spirit of Luck Itself-BonusEventus | Artist: Elizabeth WindischModel: Sameer Rhodes ofLouisville Ballet
62. The Spirit of Luck Itself- NemesisElizabeth Windisch | Model: Jo Henn of Louisville Ballet
63. Charm of Luck | Artist: KathrynDillard | Model: Somnia Keesey
64. Jackpot | Artist & Model:Ainsley Alexander
65. Lucky Undies | Artist: DavidWinningham | Model: Kristen Merry
66. Paper Crane Couture | Artist: Kathryn Henzler | Model: Ali Longmire
67. Jester | Artist: Juliet TaylorModel: Abram Sweetser
68. Jestress | Artist: Juliet TaylorModel: Lydia Holdaway
69. “Lay Lotus” Good KarmaArtist: Wende CudmoreModel: Yolanda Evans
70. Vespertine | Artists: Edwin Ramirez & Sara Noori | Model: Christie Perez
COUTURE JUNIORS:
View Article HERE For Artist/Model Credits
1. VIRGINIA CHANCE SCHOOL
2nd Grade
Artist & Model- Julia Feride
2. BLOOM ELEMENTARY
5th Grade
Artist & Model- Margaret Burleson
3. FRANCIS PARKER SCHOOLOF LOUISVILLE
6th Grade
Artist- Sophia Del Negro
Model- Llanna Hill
4. LOUISVILLE COLLEGIATE SCHOOL
7th Grade
Artist- Neal James
Model- Gracie Attkisson