Since its inception in 2016, Dior’s Lady Art Project has been an invitation to some of the world’s most exciting artists to reinterpret the iconic Lady Dior bag. With only one guiding principle—to preserve its storied silhouette—each artist collaborates with Dior’s artisans to push the boundaries of creativity and craftsmanship. For the project’s latest iteration, Turkish-born artist Hayal Ponzati has lent her tactile, sculptural sensibility to the classic bag, transforming it into a portable work of art.

Known for her autonomous, sculpturally resonant shapes, Ponzati’s works exist in a dialogue between painting and objecthood, a tension she has eloquently transposed to her Lady Dior creations. The bags pulse with her unique vision: fur, embroidered elements, and printed patent leather become canvases for her artistry. The result is not merely a handbag but a tangible experience, a vessel that captures the essence of Ponzati’s philosophy.

During a presentation unveiling her designs, Ponzati spoke of this collaboration as an opportunity to venture into new territory. “This project allowed me to transfer my paintings into a sculptural format,” she shared, her words underscoring the transformative nature of her undertaking. For Ponzati, the Lady Dior bag became a bridge, carrying her work from the confines of a studio to the dynamism of everyday life. “The painting leaves the canvas and travels with its carrier,” she said, describing the bag as both an object and an experience, a voyage into her artistic world.

Ponzati’s designs are rich with layers—literal and metaphorical. Mirrors embedded within her interpretations of Lady Dior reflect her ethos of connecting the world she inhabits with the broader realities of existence. “I try to communicate what I perceive of the world, but also its evident realities,” she explained, hinting at the interplay between introspection and universality that defines her practice. The mirrors are a visual and conceptual motif, inviting the owner to engage with the bag and its surroundings unexpectedly.

Tactility is central to Ponzati’s work; this collaboration was no exception. Known for her hands-on approach to painting, she embraced Dior’s ateliers to create bags that demand to be felt as much as seen. Whether through the softness of fur or the shimmering complexity of embroidered patterns, her Lady Dior designs invite touch, transforming the act of carrying the bag into a sensory experience. In merging her artistry with Dior’s legacy, Ponzati has redefined Lady Dior as an intimate piece of wearable sculpture. Her designs honor the bag’s iconic status while exploring its potential as an artwork to be carried and cherished. It is this duality—of beauty and utility, art and function—that makes her creations so compelling.