Lucky #13: KMAC Couture's Unstoppable Spell On The Runway

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