Five female artists give Weekend Max Mara's classic trench a colorful update.&nbsp;

Weekend Max Mara&rsquo;s &ldquo;A Weekend with an Artist&rdquo; capsule collection enlists five contemporary artists&mdash;Paola Pivi, Tschabalala Self, Tai Shani, Victoria Kosheleva, and Shafei Xia&mdash;to bring fresh vision to the Italian brand&rsquo;s Canasta trench. Pivi, famed for her multicolored feathered polar bear sculptures, turns from Arctic whimsy to Hawaii&rsquo;s magical double rainbows, translating these optical phenomena into vertical stripes that cascade over the khaki coat&rsquo;s rain cape and central back vent, converging at the waist to sculpt an hourglass silhouette.
For Spring/Summer 2026, the project reimagines the trench not just as a wardrobe staple, but as a true canvas&mdash;one that allows each artist to interpret the house icon through their own lens. The result is a series of one-of-a-kind &ldquo;artist&rsquo;s trenches,&rdquo; each rooted in individuality rather than trend, and shaped by distinct visual languages and disciplines.
Curated by art critic and longtime Venice Biennale director Francesco Bonami, the lineup reflects a deliberate mix of perspectives and generations. Rather than chasing commercial appeal, the artists were selected for their autonomy&mdash;each bringing a point of view that resists convention and embraces experimentation. As Bonami notes, the goal was to use an iconic garment as a vehicle for personal expression, reinforcing fashion&rsquo;s ability to communicate something deeper than aesthetics alone.
That idea comes through most vividly in Victoria Kosheleva&rsquo;s take, which treats the trench like a moving piece of theater. Known for blending classical references with a digital-age sensibility, she hand-painted motifs directly onto a prototype before they were translated into print. Checkerboard patterns, swirling forms, and surrealist details come together in a composition that feels closer to costume than outerwear. For Kosheleva, the trench becomes a kind of narrative object.&nbsp;

Tschabalala Self, whose work often explores identity and the symbolism embedded in everyday materials, approaches the piece with a softer but equally layered perspective. Her pastel yellow trench is adorned with her signature Infinity Flower motif, a recurring symbol in her practice that speaks to cycles of growth and transformation. The delicate, almost nostalgic palette contrasts with the conceptual depth behind it, grounding the piece in both beauty and meaning.

Tai Shani, on the other hand, leans into contrast, pairing glossy black vinyl with playful, unexpected imagery. Her interpretation pulls from themes of femininity and subversion, blending gothic undertones with a sense of humor. The result feels intentionally contradictory: polished yet irreverent, structured yet surreal.

Shafei Xia&rsquo;s design introduces a more narrative-driven visual, drawing on historical references and cultural symbolism. Her trench features a painted scene that unfolds across the fabric, where delicate florals and a striking white tiger intertwine. There&rsquo;s a quiet tension to the imagery, adding another dimension to the garment as it moves.

Tying it all together is the campaign, shot by Petra Collins, whose dreamy, slightly off-kilter aesthetic has come to define a generation of image-making. In a series of self-portraits, Collins models each of the trenches herself, blurring the line between subject and storyteller. Set against a warehouse-like backdrop filled with artworks, the imagery reinforces the idea of these pieces as collectible objects.&nbsp;
Ultimately, &ldquo;A Weekend with an Artist&rdquo; positions the trench coat as more than a seasonal essential. Instead, it becomes a site of collaboration and creative exchange.&nbsp;

Meet the Artists Reworking Weekend Max Mara’s Iconic Trench Coat

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