CELEBRATING A TALENTED ARTIST RECYCLING BODY PARTS

“THE ORIGINAL BARBIE GAVE SIDE-EYE,” Daughter Suz explained to me. “But Malibu Barbie’s eyes looked absolutely blissed out,” Suz recounts, “and that’s why she continues to appeal to me.”

A memorable eye from Malibu Barbie, as fashioned by artist Margaux Lange.  

March & Fight is an independent online website focusing on fashion industry professionals. Its interviews—43 of them—give fascinating insights into the creative spirit, with “Margaux Lange and Reborn Barbie” being an example. Here are tidbits gleaned from this article, together with my usual comments.

Off the Wall and On To the Body. Margaux Lange says, “Jewelry was a way to get Art off the wall and on to the body so it could be more intimately shared, experienced and literally felt. My first introduction to silversmithing was in high school. However I did not know I wanted to become a studio jeweler until college. I bounced around from various mediums until I decided to concentrate on metals.”

Margaux Lange. This and following images from March & Fight. See also MargauxLange.com.

And Plastics—Namely Barbie. “Barbie made her debut in my artwork in high school and then again in various incarnations throughout college. I became interested in incorporating found objects into my jewelry work and because I had done other artworks with Barbie in the past, it felt natural to try her out in the jewelry realm. It was an unusual idea with a strong personal connection for me, so it felt right.”

Eye Earings with Howlite Drops. $390 a pair. 

On Recycling Barbies. Where does she find her Barbie resources? “Everywhere,” she recounts, “garage sales, thrift stores and eBay mostly. Of course I’m always accepting donations from children ready to rid their life of plastic soap operas.”

“It’s important to me,” Margaux says, “that the dolls are acquired as second-hand objects and that they have had a previous life in the hands of a child.This has become a crucial part of the story and conceptual basis for these works. I have literally thousands of ‘previously owned’ Barbie dolls/parts in my studio from which to choose. I enjoy the idea that the dolls are being repurposed after they’re discarded and are contributing to art.”

Legs Crossed Brooch—Chocolate with White High Heels. $590.

Margaux notes that this “Legs Crossed Brooch is one of my most requested designs. A true statement piece, featuring slinky, chocolate-toned Barbie doll legs that bend and articulate at the knees, encased in sterling silver settings with pierced lacy cut out details. Stainless steel pin back, patina finishing and artist signature on the back. Comes with removable white high heels… for PLAY of course! Life’s too short to wear boring jewelry.”

I agree!

Finger Fringe Tickle Necklace

Margaux describes, “Featuring salvaged Barbie doll fingers, with sterling silver settings and scratch texture finishing, oxidized patina and an 18″ sterling silver paperlink chain. Hand-fabricated from start to finish.” And Sold Out.

This one is sorta creepy to me, but then I’m an old guy.

Margaux’s Own Barbie Pals. The artist recalls, “I was obsessed with them. Barbie dolls played a pivotal role in my childhood development as a tool for acting out and exploring the human relationships in my own life, as well as the fantasy lives I imagined. I spend many hours crafting precious details for her and the miniature world in which she existed. Playing with dolls helped to develop my dexterity from a young age and strengthened my attention to detail.”

Response to Her Work?  Margaux relates, “I love that everyone brings his or her own baggage. It’s indicative of their relationship with, or feelings about the icon. My goal has been to create art that a broad range of people can relate to and I believe I’ve been successful with this.”

This assembly celebrates the broad range of Barbie’s (and Margaux’s) world.

She continues, “Some people respond to its humor and think it’s clever and fun. Some wear it as a feminist statement and other appreciate it because it’s unique. And there are some people who are put off my jewelry and think it’s sinister to see Barbie dolls cut up.  Some people just cannot separate the ‘woman’ from the plastic dolls. I encourage all responses. As long as people are reacting and talking about it, that’s a good thing.”

I don’t recall interacting with daughters Suz and Beth’s Barbies, but in retrospect this particular Lange assemblage reminds me of a Busby Berkeley dance routine. (Sorry, Margaux.) 

A Source of Polarization? “Barbie is certainly a source of polarization,” Margaux observes. “Each child’s experience with her is unique and I believe there’s value in that. That’s not to say Barbie is nothing to examine regarding Barbie as an ideology. Often my work utilizes Barbie as an archetype to analyze all that this icon has come to symbolize.”

A Barbie bracelet. 

“Sometimes,” Margaux recounts, “I aim to distance myself and critique pop culture in this way, and other times I wish to engage and participate in it. Much like my own experience with womanhood: a series of rejecting and embracing prescriptive roles and stereotypes.”

A thoughtful as well as talented woman. ds

© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2026