NEW YORK - Fashion lovers contend that it’s not just a business, but also a true art.

Christian Siriano made that argument in a literal way Saturday by bringing an actual artist to his runway, putting the finishing touches on her paintings as models strutted by.

Artist Ashley Longshore went from canvas to canvas, picking up paintbrushes to add colour and detail to paintings of powerful women like Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, actress Laverne Cox, supermodel Coco Rocha and others.

His runway, as always an inclusive environment featuring models of all shapes, sizes and genders, was filled with colour, notably shimmering greens and yellows.

The show ended with a display of rainbow-themed garments, as in a huge belted rainbow coat in metallic lame, with giant balloon sleeves.