Barbie Deconstruction by Margaux Lange

Words by Stefania Vourazeri

23 February 2011

Barbie Deconstruction by Margaux Lange

Words by Stefania Vourazeri

23 February 2011

New York, United States

In March 2011, Barbie will celebrate her 52nd birthday. More than just a doll, she is an icon, a collectible, and, above all, a cherished toy that has embodied childhood dreams for generations. Margaux Lange, the New York-born jewelry designer, has given the iconic plastic doll a second life through her imaginative creations. Her psychedelic jewelry designs bring every Barbie dream to life, igniting a sense of nostalgia that makes you want to dig out your beloved toy from the depths of storage and play with it once more.

Barbie’s distinctive body parts — hands, ears, eyes, mouths, and more — are the raw materials for Lange’s “Plastic Body Series,” a collection she launched nearly a decade ago. A childhood obsession and a deeply personal connection with the doll inspired her to integrate Barbie into her art. For Lange, Barbie played a pivotal role in her early development, serving as a tool to explore human relationships, both real and imagined. Through the doll, she created stories, processed emotions, and navigated the complex world of adulthood from the safe confines of childhood imagination.

photo © David Balogh.

Hands Bracelet, photo © Margaux Lange.

What makes Lange’s work even more compelling is her commitment to using only second-hand dolls and accessories. She sources her materials from donations, garage sales, thrift stores, and, of course, eBay. Conceptually, it is crucial for her that these dolls have been played with — that they have held the dreams, secrets, and stories of the children who once cherished them. In this way, each piece of her jewelry becomes more than an accessory; it becomes a tangible fragment of someone’s youth.

Yes Neckpiece, photo © Margaux Lange.

Hand Hinge Bracelet, photo © Margaux Lange.

Winged Neckpiece, photo © Margaux Lange.

Starburst Hand Brooch, photo © Margaux Lange.

“Often, my work utilizes Barbie as an archetype to analyze all that this icon has come to symbolize. Sometimes, 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.”

Her wearable art pieces have garnered international attention. Lange is represented by various art jewelry galleries and boutiques worldwide, from New York City to Scotland, Australia, Russia, and beyond. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art, where she first began experimenting with repurposing mass-produced objects into handmade art.

The “Plastic Body Series” features salvaged Barbie doll parts combined with sterling silver and pigmented resin. The series reflects Lange’s desire to transform familiar, mass-produced materials into intricate, wearable art. It is a playful yet thought-provoking commentary on pop culture’s enduring fascination with Barbie — a doll that continues to influence perceptions of femininity, beauty, and imagination.

Through her work, Margaux Lange not only redefines what jewelry can be but also challenges us to revisit and rethink our childhood icons. Her pieces are bold, surreal, and undeniably nostalgic, making each wearer part of Barbie’s endlessly evolving narrative.