_{^{Image credit: 3D grown shoe from the experimental series »The Nature of Motion«, Nikita Troufanov, 2016 © Nike, Inc.}} 

(Oct. 19, 2026 – PHOENIX) Next spring, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) presents the Southwest premiere of Nike: Form Follows Motion, becoming only the second institution in the U.S. to present the comprehensive exhibition that traces the 50-year evolution of Nike from a small Oregon running company into a global cultural force.  

Organized by the Vitra Design Museum and drawn primarily from the Department of Nike Archives (DNA)—a collection of more than 200,000 objects never before accessible to the public in this depth—the exhibition brings audiences behind the scenes into Nike’s unparalleled design lab, where sports research, scientific study, design innovation, and aesthetic sensibility converge.  

Featured objects and artifacts include experimental prototypes, original design studies, rarities, and one-offs showcased alongside iconic Nike designs such as the Waffle Trainer, the Air Force 1, the Air Jordan, the Air Max, Flyknit, and the Vaporfly.  

Nike: Form Follows Motion will be on view in Steele Gallery from April 14 – September 26, 2027. 

“As one of few art museums in the U.S. to regularly exhibit, collect, and preserve fashion as part of our core collecting priorities, Phoenix Art Museum is thrilled to bring Nike: Form Follows Motion to the Valley of the Sun so that Arizona audiences can engage with the story of how the revered sports brand has united athletics, design, and contemporary culture to influence style and self-expression across generations,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “This once-in-a-lifetime exhibition provides a first-time view into Nike’s long history, highlighting how the brand simultaneously responded to the needs of athletes while driving cutting-edge design and trends for the masses. This is much more than a striking display of sneakers and sportswear; it’s a story about an idea that started on the track and grew to shape everything from street to mainstream culture.” 

Presented by PNC Bank, Nike: Form Follows Motion at Phoenix Art Museum unfolds across four chronological sections in the institution’s premier Steele Gallery:   

• Track sheds light on Nike’s origins in the 1960s, when the company was founded by Phil Knight, a former college runner, and his coach, Bill Bowerman. Visitors discover how Bowerman’s early experiments in his kitchen led to the first Waffle Sole, while also encountering founding-era artifacts and the story of the Tennessee State University Tigerbelles, a track team of Black women who dominated the sport during the civil rights era in the U.S.  

• Air highlights the 1980s, when Nike vaulted from running specialist to cultural force. The section centers on the invention of the visible Air Sole, introduced in the 1987 Air Max, and includes engineer Frank Rudy’s original testing machine alongside air-bag prototypes that inspired the iconic design of a sealed capsule of pressurized gas that you can view through a window in the side of a shoe. The section also traces Nike’s foray into basketball, tennis, global football, and skateboarding, while highlighting partnerships with athletes such as Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, and LeBron James that turned product into mythology.  

• Sensation opens the doors of the Nike Sport Research Lab, one of the world’s most advanced facilities for studying the body in motion. Visitors discover the science behind Nike Free, the Vaporfly and the sub-two-hour marathon, and the material breakthroughs—including Flyknit—that have reshaped both performance and the conversation about sustainability in footwear. The section closes on Nike’s ongoing work in circular manufacturing, ethical sourcing, and recycled materials.  

• Relation ends the exhibition by charting how a sports brand became a global cultural phenomenon. Visitors navigate a maze-like display of 50 examples of groundbreaking footwear born from high-profile artistic partnerships and community-driven projects. By explicitly focusing on Nike’s impact on popular culture and counterculture, this section sheds light on the public’s almost mythical devotion to sneaker culture and is supplemented by music videos and social media artifacts that demonstrate how Nike drew inspiration from global subcultures to become a prime mover of street style.  

“At PNC, we understand the critical role the arts play in the continued success, stability and growth of our community,” said Kyle Steinbuch, PNC regional president and head of Corporate Banking for Arizona. “At its core, the Nike: Form Follows Motion exhibition is about people, creativity and the evolution of ideas. We’re excited to support this opportunity for museum visitors to see the intersection of sports, design and culture in a new way.” 

Nike: Form Follows Motion is accompanied by a major 356-page publication featuring essays by scholars Sam Grawe, Adam Bradley, William Myers, Jared Dalcourt, and Ligaya Salazar. Illustrated with nearly 300 historic and contemporary images, the book will be available for purchase at The Museum Store, inside Phoenix Art Museum, along with a selection of exclusive exhibition-related merchandise. 

About the Exhibition 

Nike: Form Follows Motion is organized by the Vitra Design Museum in Germany and is curated by Glenn Adamson and assistant curator Marcella Hanika with exhibition design by JA Projects and graphic design by Daniel Streat, Visual Fields. 

The presentation of Nike: Form Follows Motion at Phoenix Art Museum is coordinated by Summer Rye, Fashion Curatorial Assistant, and Rebekah Monahan, Fashion Collection Manager, and presented by PNC Bank. It is also made possible through the generosity of Men’s Arts Council.  

In-kind support is provided by Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix. 

All exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum are underwritten by the Phoenix Art Museum Exhibition Excellence Fund, founded by The Opatrny Family Foundation with additional major support provided by Joan Cremin. 

About PNC Bank 

PNC Bank, National Association, is a member of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC). PNC is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management. For information about PNC, visit www.pnc.com. 

About Phoenix Art Museum 

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, a monthly live-music series, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602-257-1880. 

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PHOENIX (October 2, 2026) –In honor of the 60^th anniversary of the Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) fashion collection and Arizona Costume Institute (ACI), PhxArt will host a special one-night-only evening with CFDA Fashion Designer Christian Siriano, featuring a curated runway show of his Spring/Summer 2027 collection and the unveiling of a newly commissioned work by Siriano for the PhxArt fashion collection. The event will also celebrate the launch of the Museum’s newest original fashion publication—Colorwear—which explores the history of the institution’s renowned fashion holdings and features Siriano’s commissioned design on its cover.

Hosted at the Museum on October 20, 2026, from 6 – 9 pm, the historic event will also feature a cocktail reception and Q & A with Siriano, as well as the opportunity to purchase a copy of Colorwear pre-signed by the designer. The following tiered tickets to the event are now available to the public:

Runway Show + Reception

$250 for the public

$175 for Arizona Costume Institute members

Oct. 20 | 6 – 9 pm | Phoenix Art Museum

Tickets at this level include access to:

•    Christian Siriano Runway Show

•    Reception + Q & A with Christian Siriano

•    Commission Unveiling in the Ellman Fashion Galleries

Tickets to the runway show + full celebration can be purchased here.

Reception Only

$100 for the public

Oct. 20 | 7 – 9 pm | Phoenix Art Museum

Tickets at this level include access to:

•    Reception + Q & A with Christian Siriano

•    Commission Unveiling in the Ellman Fashion Galleries

Tickets to the reception only can be purchased here.

A copy of Colorwear pre-signed by Siriano can be purchased with either ticket option for an additional $50.

“We are thrilled to welcome Christian Siriano back to Phoenix for what will be a truly historic moment for Phoenix Art Museum and Arizona Costume Institute,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “As ACI celebrates its 60th anniversary, we are also marking the official release of Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion and the unveiling of the extraordinary gown commissioned from Christian for the Museum’s collection, which fittingly graces the cover of the publication. Bringing these milestones together with a runway show featuring Christian’s Spring/Summer collection, fresh from New York Fashion Week, creates an extraordinary opportunity to celebrate both ACI’s remarkable legacy and the vitality of fashion today. Since 1966, generations of ACI members and leaders have championed fashion as an art form and helped build a collection of national significance. We are deeply grateful for their vision, dedication, and enduring support, and to Christian for helping us commemorate this milestone with an unforgettable celebration of fashion, creativity, and the next chapter of ACI at Phoenix Art Museum.”

Christian Siriano is a CFDA award-winning designer and member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America who launched his eponymous collection in 2008 following his studies in London under Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Known for whimsical and showstopping designs, his collection is shown each season at New York Fashion Week and sold in retailers across the globe. Siriano’s designs have been worn by former First Ladies Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, Oprah, Zendaya, Angelina Jolie, Billy Porter, and Cardi B, among many others. 

The October 20 evening with Siriano is part of a full season of 60^th-anniversary events for Arizona Costume Institute and fashion at PhxArt. The runway show portion of the evening will feature approximately 15 looks from the designer’s Spring/Summer 2027 collection, which debuted at New York Fashion Week in September. Siriano drew inspiration for the collection from the 18th-century French tale The Story of the Queen of the Flowery Isles, creating garments that exist at the intersection of the story’s darker themes and its dreamlike ending. In Siriano’s designs, graphic black tailoring, structured corsets, and laser-cut shapes and silhouettes meet romantic florals, chiffon, and tulle, offering a compelling visual interpretation of the dark fairytale.

As part of the evening’s festivities, attendees will also hear from Siriano during a Q&A at an exclusive reception following the runway show. Additionally, they will be the first to view in person an extraordinary ombré gown created by Siriano designed exclusively for the Museum’s renowned fashion collection. The commissioned work features a vibrant fuchsia bodice that gives way to a cascading skirt of 16 ruffled tiers in varying shades of purple. The colors of the gown are inspired by Elsa Schiaparelli’s “Shocking Pink” of the 1930s and the powerful statement colors of 1980s fashion. The vibrant look will be unveiled in the Kelly Ellman Fashion Galleries as part of the Colorwear exhibition.

The October event additionally marks the launch ofan original PhxArt publication, Colorwear. The book features more than 150 ensembles from the institution’s fashion collection, arranged across 13 vivid chapters organized by color. The publication, which showcases Siriano’s commissioned gown on the cover, reveals how designers through time and across continents create wearable art that continues to inspire. It also includes contributions from celebrated fashion historians and DRESSED podcast hosts April Calahan and Cassidy Zachary.

“Over the past 60 years, ACI has grown into a community united by a love of fashion and a belief in its enduring place in the arts,” said Donna Johnson, President of Arizona Costume Institute. “What makes this anniversary especially meaningful is knowing that the passion and support of ACI members have helped build a collection and a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations. Celebrating that legacy alongside a designer as imaginative and influential as Christian Siriano, and welcoming him back to Phoenix, feels like a wonderful bridge between where we have been and where fashion will take us next.”

ACI was founded in 1966 to support the Museum’s fashion department through the acquisition and preservation of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance. Today, the PhxArt fashion collection numbers more than 9,000 objects, and ACI has created a vibrant community of fashion and design enthusiasts who support the museum through various fashion-forward fundraisers, including the organization’s signature event—the ACI Holiday Luncheon. In 2024, Siriano appeared in conversation with Chrissy Sayare, co-founder and CEO of To Be Continued…, at the ACI Holiday Luncheon. Considered the Valley’s premier fashion fundraiser, the Holiday Luncheon brings in more than $800,000 in support of the PhxArt fashion collection in each year.

For more information about the Christian Siriano event, the PhxArt fashion collection, or Arizona Costume Institute, please contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at press@phxart.org.

About Christian Siriano

Award-winning CFDA designer Christian Siriano has established himself as a tour de force in the fashion world since launching his eponymous collection in 2008 following his studies in London under Vivienne Westwood and Alexander McQueen. Siriano’s designs have been worn by today’s biggest names including former FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden, former FLOTUS Michelle Obama, VPOTUS Kamala Harris, Angelina Jolie, Oprah, Zendaya, Ariana Grande, Julianne Moore, Lady Gaga, Tiffany Haddish, Billy Porter, Cardi B, Whoopi Goldberg, Julia Roberts, and Jennifer Coolidge, to name but a few. Having just celebrated the brand’s 18-year anniversary, the Siriano design studio continues to celebrate beauty and diversity in this ever-changing fashion industry. As a result, Christian’s work has been featured in a multitude of prestigious museum exhibits including his first ever solo work retrospective titled Christian Siriano: People Are People at SCAD in Savannah and Atlanta, respectively, as well as The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. He’s also contributed pieces to Kensington Palace’s largest exhibition to date titled Crown to Couture, the Fashioning Masculinities: The Art of Menswear exhibition at the V&A, Grit to Glamour at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art and The MET Costume Institute where he broke a Met Gala record for having three separate looks featured in the 2021 exhibit In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. Christian himself was also named among Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2018 for his leading contributions to body diversity on the runway and red carpet, was a member of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 class of 2015, and was the youngest person to ever appear on Crain’s “40 Under 40” list at age 24.

Apart from his thriving fashion empire, Christian has been the host and mentor for Disney’s hit series “Project Runway” and recently added best-selling author (Dresses to Dream About and Dresses to Dream About: Deluxe Edition) and interior designer (Siriano Interiors) to his impressive list of credits. In 2024, he launched the second collection of his furniture line and a new coffee table book titled CHRISTIAN SIRIANO: THE NEW RED CARPET. Most recently, Christian launched RUNWAY by Christian Siriano, a seven-piece “masstige” skincare line, backstage at his Fall 2026 runway show. 

About Arizona Costume Institute

Arizona Costume Institute was founded in 1966 to support the fashion department of Phoenix Art Museum through the acquisition and preservation of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance and through events and fundraising efforts that support and deepen awareness of the Museum’s fashion exhibitions and education programs. ACI’s support of this collection area depends on the enthusiasm of dedicated volunteers. The current ACI Board of Managers president is Donna Johnson. To learn more about Arizona Costume Institute, visit arizonacostumeinstitute.org.

About the Fashion Collection at Phoenix Art Museum

The Fashion Collection at Phoenix Art Museum strives to tell an accurate history of fashion and is actively pursuing works that represent a broader and more inclusive glossary of designers. Comprising nearly half of the Museum’s permanent holdings, the collection houses more than 9,000 examples of fashionable dress and accessories from the 17th century to the present. Celebrated for its quality and comprehensiveness, the collection explores the art of dressing and seeks out the rarest examples of these dress traditions, with particular strengths in 19th-century womenswear, works by 20th-century designers, and significant examples from major representatives of European and North American fashion history. Special archives within the collection include the Ann Bonfoey Taylor wardrobe of more than 200 examples by mid-century couture designers; The Emphatics Archive of more than 400 works from avant-garde designers; the Geoffrey Beene Archive, with more than 300 evening gowns and custom designs; and the Paper Dresses Archive.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, a monthly live-music series, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

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PHOENIX, AZ—August 17, 2026—In September 2027, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) and the Heard Museum will present Jamie Okuma: With These Hands, the first major mid-career retrospective of contemporary artist and fashion designer Jamie Okuma (Luiseño, Shoshone-Bannock, Wailaki, and Okinawan) and the inaugural exhibition co-presented by the two neighboring Phoenix-based institutions. Showcasing Okuma’s boundary-defying, interdisciplinary practice, the exhibition features more than 60 works from the late 1990s to the present, including objects from Okuma’s personal archive. Soft-sculptures, couture, ready-to-wear garments, and examples of beadwork demonstrate Okuma’s masterful approach to working across art and fashion design, yielding evocative pieces that are simultaneously grounded in tradition and contemporary sensibilities. A historic collaboration between the Heard and PhxArt, Jamie Okuma: With These Hands will be on view at both institutions simultaneously from September 24, 2027 through March 5, 2028.   

In a joint statement, from David M. Roche, the Heard Museum Dickey Family Director and CEO, and Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum: “We’re honored to present this landmark exhibition to the Phoenix community and beyond. Jamie Okuma: With These Hands marks a defining milestone in Jamie Okuma’s career, illuminating how her unique interdisciplinary practice has made an indelible impact in the realms of contemporary art, fashion, and Indigenous creative expression, while establishing a new framework for understanding her work within the contemporary visual arts and fashion history. This presentation further underscores the commitment our two institutions share to creating opportunities for Indigenous artists and to making Phoenix the premier destination to experience the breadth and diversity of Indigenous art and culture.” 

Jamie Okuma is an internationally acclaimed artist and fashion designer, known widely for her intricate beadwork, mixed-media sculpture, and couture works. As a child, Okuma created and began exhibiting beadwork made with antique seed beads, including dolls adorned in fully beaded regalia. Since then, her creative practice has vastly expanded, integrating traditional beading practices with the visual languages of horror film, punk subcultures, traditional powwow regalia designs, avant-garde couture fashion, and the natural landscapes of her California home to examine issues of identity and cultural belonging. 

Jamie Okuma: With These Hands situates Okuma’s work within broader cultural conversations around Indigenous authorship, identity, and culture, investigating the ways in which her practice fits within the context of other interdisciplinary artists of her generation—and what sets it apart. In addition to exploring Okuma’s practice within the framework of deep traditional connection, the survey sheds light on how she has achieved global success by reimagining and combining pop imagery, pictographic traditions, and historical patterns and iconography, effectively challenging preconceived notions of Indigenous art, design, and fashion.  

Presented across both the Heard and PhxArt, which are located less than three blocks apart in downtown Phoenix, objects in the exhibition are explored through a set of storylines, resisting the traditional thematic structures of surveys of this kind. As they move through the galleries at each venue, visitors will discover Okuma’s work within the context of family and homeland, beauty and protection, and power and defiance. Instead of standard gallery spaces with neutral walls, works will be showcased in immersive environments, inspired by geographies that have informed their creation. For example, a dress with silk-chiffon sleeves is placed in an expansive meadow scene in reference to the ecosystem’s waving grasses. Other environments present throughout the exhibition include the ocean, cityscapes, desert landscapes, and the forest, with each showcasing its own unique set of objects.  

“Jamie Okuma’s work acts as self-portraits and insists on Indigenous authorship as both a creative and a deeply personal act,” Roshii Montaño (Diné), Curator at the Heard Museum. “She challenges long-held assumptions about Native art and design while defining her practice entirely on her own terms. With These Hands foregrounds that self-determination and affirms a distinctly contemporary Native voice.”  

Exhibition Organization, Tour, and Catalog 

Jamie Okuma: With These Hands is co-organized by the Heard Museum and Phoenix Art Museum and co-curated by Roshii Montaño (Diné; Heard) and Helen Jean. It will be accompanied by an extensive catalog highlighting Okuma’s work, featuring contributions by Montaño; Gaylord Torrence, Curator Emeritus of Native American Art at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art; and Elizabeth Way, Ph.D., Curator of Costume and Textiles at the Fashion Institute of Technology; along with an interview between the artist and fellow collaborator Keri Ataumbi and a special letter from Vogue senior fashion and style writer Christian Allaire. The catalog will be published in collaboration with Scala Arts & Heritage Publishers in September 2027. Following its premiere, the exhibition will travel to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indiana.   

About the Heard Museum 

Since its founding in 1929, the Heard Museum has grown to become nationally and internationally recognized for its world-class exhibitions, award-winning publications, unparalleled festivals, and innovative educational programs. Dedicated to connecting Indigenous creativity to the world, the Heard showcases the beauty and vitality of Indigenous creative expression by presenting the voice and vision of American Indian artists. A welcoming destination for children and families, the Heard offers engaging experiences that inspire curiosity and foster appreciation for American Indian art and culture. The Heard Museum is supported by the generosity of Heard Museum members and donors, the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture. 

About Phoenix Art Museum 

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, a monthly live-music series, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880. 

About Jamie Okuma 

Jamie Okuma (b. 1977, Luiseño, Shoshone-Bannock) is a leading Indigenous artist and fashion designer. Okuma lives and works in La Jolla, California, where she is an enrolled member of the La Jolla band of Indians in Southern California. Okuma studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe and has exhibited her art since childhood, winning seven Best in Show awards for her presentations at the Heard Museum Indian Fair and Market and the Santa Fe Indian Market. Okuma’s work is held in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Albuquerque Museum, Crocker Art Museum, Denver Art Museum, Hood Museum of Art, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Peabody Essex Museum, Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, Schingoethe Center (Aurora University), Spencer Museum of Art, the Heard Museum, and Phoenix Art Museum, and has been exhibited internationally. Okuma recently became the first Native American inducted into the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and is a 2025 CFDA Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist.  

For more information, please contact: 

The Heard Museum: 

Ivana Morales 

Senior Account Executive 

evolve pr and marketing 

Ivana@evolveprandmarketing.com 

973-864-4523 

Phoenix Art Museum: 

Sarah McNaughton / Lucia Santos 

Resnicow and Associates 

smcnaughton@resnicow.com / lsantos@resnicow.com  

212-671-5161 / 212-671-5181 

The post First Monographic Survey of Renowned Indigenous Artist and Fashion Designer Jamie Okuma Contextualizes Her Interdisciplinary Practice Within Contemporary Indigenous Art and Global Couture appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

The milestone event will commemorate six decades of supporting fashion and the arts in Arizona while bringing together community leaders, philanthropists, fashion enthusiasts and supporters of the Phoenix Art Museum. The Holiday Luncheon has long served as a celebration of creativity, culture and philanthropy, helping advance the Museum’s fashion initiatives and educational programming.

As chairs, Love and Robertson will help guide planning and fundraising efforts for the 2026 event, which will take place on Monday, Dec. 7 at the Arizona Biltmore.

“What an honor and pleasure it is to serve as the Holiday Luncheon Co-Chair for this special year as we celebrate ACI’s 60th Anniversary. I can attest to the impact ACI has in supporting Phoenix Art Museum’s fashion initiatives through my previous service on the ACI Board and as the 2018 Holiday Luncheon Chair. I look forward to honoring this milestone year while helping bring our community together in support of fashion, art and philanthropy,” said Lynne Love, Co-Chair of the Arizona Costume Institute’s 2026 Holiday Luncheon.

“I am honored to serve as co-chair of the Arizona Costume Institute’s 2026 Holiday Luncheon and support an organization that has championed fashion and the arts for six decades. The opportunity to bring together community leaders, philanthropists and supporters in celebration of ACI’s 60th anniversary is incredibly meaningful, and I look forward to helping create a memorable event that advances the important work of Phoenix Art Museum,” said Andrea Robertson, co-chair of the Arizona Costume Institute’s 2026 Holiday Luncheon.

Joining Love and Robertson in supporting the 2026 Holiday Luncheon are Ambassadors Carolyn Jackson and Matthew Boland. Additional leadership roles and event participants will be announced in the coming months.

About the Chairs

Lynne Love is a respected philanthropist, community leader and longtime supporter of Arizona’s arts and cultural community. A dedicated volunteer and advocate for charitable causes throughout the Valley, she has held numerous leadership roles, including Phoenix Heart Ball Chair, Arizona Women’s Board President, Authors Luncheon Chair benefiting kidney health initiatives in Arizona and Phoenix Theatre Gala Co-Chair.

A longtime supporter of the Arizona Costume Institute, Love served on the ACI Board of Directors for five years and previously chaired the organization’s 2018 Holiday Luncheon featuring renowned London milliner Stephen Jones. She has also served on the Xavier College Preparatory Board of Trustees, chaired Key to the Cure benefiting the American Cancer Society and supported organizations including Phoenix Art Museum’s pARTy, Runway to Research and Honor Ball.

Love’s contributions have earned her numerous honors, including recognition as a Heart Ball Sweetheart, recipient of the Phoenix Theatre Women Who Care Award and a Trends Charitable Fund Fashionality honoree. She is passionate about mentoring emerging philanthropic leaders and supporting organizations that strengthen Arizona’s arts and nonprofit communities.

Andrea Robertson is a philanthropist, entrepreneur and community advocate dedicated to creating opportunities and resources for individuals with disabilities and their families. She is the founder of Lexie’s Voice Foundation and Lexie’s Ranch, Arizona-based nonprofit organizations inspired by her daughter, Lexie, that provide inclusive programming, advocacy and support services for individuals with special needs.

Under Robertson’s leadership, the organizations have grown into impactful community resources that foster inclusion, connection and empowerment for families across Arizona. Beyond her nonprofit work, she is an active supporter of numerous charitable and community initiatives throughout the Valley and is passionate about bringing people together to create meaningful change. Her dedication to service and philanthropy has made her a respected leader within Arizona’s nonprofit community.

Event Details

The 2026 Holiday Luncheon will take place on Monday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Arizona Biltmore.

Additional information on this year’s guest speaker, ticketing and table sponsorships, and other exciting programming details will be available later this summer.

2026 ACI Holiday Luncheon Leadership:

Chairs

Lynne Love

Andrea Roberston

Luncheon Ambassadors

Carolyn Jackson

Matthew Boland

Committee

Tanya Badyal
Sandy Becker
Ronna Beeson
Lisa Bell
Charlene Berge
Juliet Burgess
Linda Cohen
Meredith Cohen
Jenna Condas
Lee Courtney
Oscar De las salas
Nissa Dell
Shawnee Doherty
Carol Dries
Rebecca Fowler
Jay Franke
Elizabeth Garrett
Natalie Gaylord
Lisa Geyser
Laurie Goldstein
Suzi Hilton
Justine Hurry
Kimberly Jacobsen
Donna Johnson
Kelly Kolicko
Jill Krigsten
Joseph Leeds
Brooke Levy
Barbara Lytle
Ina Manaster
Philip Manghisi
Beth McRae
Jennifer Moser
Diane O’Malley
Joanne Osborne
Lory Parsons
Donna Pettigrew Hicks
Dawna Pitts
Sally Pope
Lisa Portigal
Helene Presutti
Sherri Quinn
Bea Rocklin
Chrissy Sayare
Jennifer Schuitemaker
Lisa Shapiro
Nancy Singer
Joy Sprink
Catherine Tuton
Vicki Vaughn
Teana Wagner
Pat Watts
Eileen Yeung

For more information: special.events@phxart.org or 602.307.2082.  If you are interested in setting up an interview with the chairs, please reach out to natalie@mcraeagency.com.

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PHOENIX (March 31, 2026) – On April 15, 2026, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) will present its newest fashion exhibition Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion. The exhibition commemorates the 60th anniversary of Phoenix Art Museum’s fashion collection by presenting a chromatic celebration of colorful ensembles and whimsical accessories. Arranged across a runway of vibrant hues, this exhibition reveals how North American and European designers including Hubert de Givenchy, Olivier Lapidus, Tina Leser, and Giorgio di Sant’Angelo have used color as a source of inspiration. In addition to luscious gowns and sparkling dresses, the exhibition features some of the smallest and most extraordinary objects in the Museum’s fashion holdings, such as Judith Leiber pillboxes encased in multihued crystals, psychedelic scarves, and shoes that evoke the golden tones of an Egyptian burial or the bold explosion of graffiti paint. From couture to ready-to-wear, Colorwear immerses you in the power of color as storytelling, mood, and creative expression. Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion will be on view at PhxArt from April 15, 2026 through August 15, 2027 in the Kelly Ellman Fashion Galleries.

This riotous celebration of color continues throughout the year with rotating ensembles, the unveiling of a colorful new commission, and an upcoming catalogue that features contributions from fashion historians and Dressed: The History of Fashion podcast hosts April Calahan and Cassidy Zachary.

“Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion offers a special glimpse into the extraordinary accessories and ensembles that have shaped Phoenix Art Museum’s fashion collection for six decades,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “By bringing together objects that range from the smallest to the most extravagant, the exhibition immerses visitors in the expressive power of color as a form of storytelling. Colorwear not only celebrates the Museum’s history but also animates it through rotating installations, a new commission, dynamic public programs, and a forthcoming publication that explores fashion at PhxArt through the lens of color.”

The Museum began collecting fashion in 1966, when the Arizona Costume Institute was founded to support the acquisition and preservation of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance. Today, the PhxArt fashion collection houses more than 9,000 objects spanning the 18th century through the present and is home to four special archives, including Paper Dress, the Geoffrey Beene Archive, the Emphatics Archive, and the Ann Bonfoey Taylor Archive. Alongside the kaleidoscopic array of Colorwear, visitors can also discover objects that tell the history of fashion at PhxArt, from historic accessories to rare and avant-garde examples from the archival collections, and new acquisitions by contemporary designers such as The Son of Picasso, a Native American artist of Kiowa, Taos Pueblo, Diné (Navajo), and Delaware descent.

Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion will be accompanied by a compelling series of public programs and lectures by nationally celebrated fashion professionals, as well as the fall release of the Museum’s first fashion-focused collection book of the same name, Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion, published by Scala Arts Publishers, Inc.

“Colorful clothing sparks emotion—both when we wear it and when we see it. It can uplift our mood and encourage boldness or inspire a more contemplative or nostalgic state. Some designers have even become known for their signature colors, such as Schiaparelli’s Shocking Pink, Dior’s Gray, and Chanel’s Black. In fact, color is one of the first elements we describe when discussing an ensemble,” said Helen Jean, the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion. “Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion draws inspiration from this powerful aspect of design, bringing together works that show how master designers have explored color over time. Through garments and accessories, the exhibition highlights individuality, self-expression, and visual storytelling through the splendor of color.”

High-resolution photography for Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion can be downloaded here. To request interviews, contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at press@phxart.org  or kaylee.weyrauch@phxart.org.

About the Exhibition

Colorwear: A Kaleidoscope of Fashion is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Helen Jean, the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion and Summer Rye, Fashion Curatorial Assistant & ACI Liaison. The exhibition is made possible through the generosity of Jacquie and Bennett Dorrance and Arizona Costume Institute.

All fashion exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum are underwritten by The Kelly Ellman Fashion Endowment Fund and The Thomas Carlton Rogers II Fashion Exhibition Fund.

All exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum are underwritten by the Phoenix Art Museum Exhibition Excellence Fund, founded by The Opatrny Family Foundation with additional major support provided by Joan Cremin.

Admission is free for Museum Members and youth aged 5 and younger. Entrance into the exhibition is included in general admission for the public. Visitors may also enjoy reduced admission to the exhibition during voluntary-donation times on Wednesdays from 3 – 8 pm, made possible by SRP and City of Phoenix, with additional support by Arizona Community Foundation. For a full breakdown of general admission prices and hours, see phxart.org/visit/.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, an art+music festival, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

About the Phoenix Art Museum Fashion Collection

Phoenix Art Museum is one of few institutions in the United States that continually collects, preserves, and exhibits works of fashion, placing the southwestern institution in the company of other leading fashion museums. The Museum began collecting fashion in 1966, when Arizona Costume Institute was founded to support the acquisition and preservation of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance. Today, the PhxArt fashion collection houses more than 9,000 objects of women’s, men’s, and children’s dress spanning the 18th century through the present. It is also home to three special archives, including the Geoffrey Beene Archive of more than 300 garments by the late designer gifted by Patsy Tarr; the Emphatics Archive, featuring avant-garde fashions by Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler, and others; and the Ann Bonfoey Taylor Archive, featuring the extraordinary custom-couture wardrobe of the American-socialite and tastemaker.

About Arizona Costume Institute

Arizona Costume Institute was founded in 1966 to support the fashion-design department of Phoenix Art Museum through the acquisition and preservation of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance and through events and fundraising efforts that support and deepen awareness of the Museum’s fashion exhibitions and education programs. ACI’s support of this collection area depends on the enthusiasm of dedicated volunteers. The ACI Board of Managers 2025-2027 president is Donna Johnson. To learn more about Arizona Costume Institute, visit arizonacostumeinstitute.org.

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PHOENIX (January 29, 2026) –On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) presents the return of Women Powered. The beloved program, which offers guests the opportunity to network amongst peers and hear from dynamic women leaders, brings global fashion designer, entrepreneur, and women’s empowerment advocate Rebecca Minkoff, live to the Museum. To celebrate the 60^th anniversary of PhxArt’s fashion program, the Museum will host a special edition of Women Powered, featuring an inspiring conversation with the nationally renowned New York-based designer led by Valley entrepreneur and fashion icon Chrissy Sayare. Minkoff will share stories of her own success, building bold ideas, navigating business, and living at the intersection of entrepreneurship and creativity. This event is welcome to all ages and industries.

At 5 pm, the Museum will host a cocktail reception with a cash bar in the Dorrance Sculpture Garden. Then at 6:30 pm, attendees will enjoy a fireside chat with Minkoff and Sayare in Whiteman Hall.

Make the evening even more memorable by adding a signed copy of Minkoff’s newest book Fearless: The New Rules of Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success to your reservation. The personally autographed special edition is available in limited quantities and is a meaningful takeaway from an inspiring night.

Elevate your evening with an exclusive, intimate dinner honoring the nationally renowned designer directly following the program. Enjoy a luxury dining experience with a hosted bar and receive a signed copy of Minkoff’s recent book Fearless: The New Rules of Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success. This special experience offers a rare opportunity to engage more personally with our guest of honor and deepen your connection to the ideas shared on stage while making a meaningful impact. Dinner tickets are $500 each. Seating is limited. Advance purchase required for dinner by March 4.

Tickets to Women Powered are $45 for the general public, $25 for PhxArt Members, $15 for college students with an active ID. Optional ticket to include a singed copy of Fearless: The New Rules for Unlocking Creativity, Courage, and Success also available at $45 for Members, $65 for non-Members. Dinner tickets are $500 each. Seating is limited. Advance purchase required for dinner by March 4. Tickets are available here.

Rebecca Minkoff’s journey began with a fearless leap—moving to New York City at just 18 to chase a dream in fashion. With no roadmap and few resources, she turned a love for design into a global brand synonymous with accessible luxury. But what truly sets Rebecca apart isn’t just her success as a designer. It’s her unwavering commitment to lifting others as she climbs. In 2018, she launched the Female Founder Collective, a powerful network of women-led businesses committed to advancing financial equity and opportunity for women at every level. Through her Superwomen podcast and candid speaking engagements, she shares the unfiltered side of entrepreneurship and life like navigating setbacks, battling fear, and balancing life with ambition. Her talks leave audiences energized and inspired, reminding them that fear is not a weakness but a compass to guide them through the impossible.

For more information about this event, contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at press@phxart.org.

About the Fashion Collection at Phoenix Art Museum

The Fashion Collection at Phoenix Art Museum strives to tell an accurate history of fashion and is actively pursuing works that represent a broader and more inclusive glossary of designers. Comprising nearly half of the Museum’s permanent holdings, the collection houses nearly 9,000 examples of fashionable dress and accessories from five centuries of style. With everything from a pair of 17th-century sueded-leather gloves to 21st-century couture runway looks, the collection explores the art of dressing and seeks out the rarest examples of these dress traditions. Celebrated for its quality and comprehensiveness, the collection boasts strengths in 19th-century womenswear as well as works by 20th-century designers, with significant examples from major representatives of European and North American fashion history. Special archives within the collection include the Ann Bonfoey Taylor wardrobe of more than 200 examples by mid-century couture designers, The Emphatics Archive of more than 400 works from avant-garde designers, and the Geoffrey Beene Archive, with more than 300 evening gowns and custom designs.

About Arizona Costume Institute

Arizona Costume Institute was founded in 1966 to support the fashion-design department of Phoenix Art Museum through the acquisition and preservation of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance and through events and fundraising efforts that support and deepen awareness of the Museum’s fashion exhibitions and education programs. ACI’s support of this collection area depends on the enthusiasm of dedicated volunteers. The ACI Board of Managers 2023-2025 president is Joy Sprink. To learn more about Arizona Costume Institute, visit arizonacostumeinstitute.org.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, a monthly live-music series, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

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PHOENIX (September 12, 2024) – On October 9, 2024, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) presents its newest major fashion exhibition and the largest collections-based endeavor in the history of the Museum with Greatest Fits (Vol. 1): The Art of Archiving Fashion. The momentous exhibition is the first in a series of exhibitions that, over the next five years, will uncover the depth of the Museum’s fashion holdings, which now comprise more than 9,000 objects of historical and contemporary dress. The Collection: Greatest Fits (Vol. 1) The Art of Archiving Fashion is a “living” exhibition that will feature 3 unique versions of the exhibition as the garments are pulled off view and replaced with others over 18 months to showcase over 100 of the collections finest works, including pieces by leading designers such as Balenciaga, Dior, McQueen, and St. Laurent, as they rotate through three galleries.

“For nearly 60 years, Phoenix Art Museum and Arizona Costume Institute have collaborated in bringing the world of fashion to Phoenix, and Greatest Fits reveals the fascinating story of how our community built this incredible legacy, now one of the most renowned fashion collections in the United States,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “In addition to celebrating the collection’s history, this exhibition series and its accompanying public programs and forthcoming publication will highlight the many civic leaders, donors, members, and staff who have had a hand not only in building a collection that engages and educates audiences on the importance of fashion but also in expanding our holdings to reflect the wide breadth of genres and movements they represent.”

Spanning the Kelly Ellman Fashion Galleries across the entire mezzanine level of the Museum’s south wing, Greatest Fits (Vol. 1) traces the development of the PhxArt Fashion Collection from its founding by Arizona Costume Institute (ACI) in 1966 through today. The exhibition begins with an extensive display of ACI archival materials, spotlighting the civic leaders, community members, and more who spearheaded the effort to create and expand the Museum’s collection. Visitors then move into a dramatic monochromatic display of garments spanning the 18^th century to the present that explores the dynamism and importance of the silhouette. This graphic section celebrates numerous shapes and forms that have defined fashion history and informed perceptions of gender, beauty, and identity. In the third and most expansive of the Kelly Ellman Fashion Galleries, Greatest Fits (Vol. 1) presents several vignettes of significant fashion “happenings” and motifs represented throughout the collection. Themes include fashion as soft sculpture, the technologies and scientific advancements that have impacted techniques and materials, the influence of sporting activities on trends, and the enduring impact of Romanticism and Greco-Roman style on designers. In a visually arresting closing section to Greatest Fits (Vol. 1), visitors will examine the future of fashion collecting, with an impressive presentation of the Museum’s latest acquisition, a couture garment by the famed Dutch designers Vicktor & Rolf. 

Greatest Fits (Vol. 1) is accompanied by a robust series of public programs and lectures by world-renowned fashion professionals (to be announced at a later date), as well as the release of the Museum’s first fashion-focused collection book, published in collaboration with SCALA Arts Publishers. 

Other notable designers and houses represented throughout Greatest Fits include:

“In 1966, few museums across the United States housed fashion collections, which made building a couture fashion collection in what was then a small desert town a particularly inspired and forward-thinking venture,” said Helen Jean, the Museum’s Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion who curated the exhibition. “Greatest Fits (Vol. 1) celebrates this achievement while highlighting the ability of the PhxArt Fashion Collection to showcase the ingenuity of designers across centuries who have worked at the intersection of art, design, and technology. This exhibition will be an exciting opportunity to not only experience many outstanding garments from the Museum’s fashion holdings, but also deepen our understanding of the practical, social, and creative underpinnings of historic and contemporary dress. This exhibition also pays homage to the people and treasured objects that helped form this gem in the Southwest.”

High-resolution photography for Greatest Fits (Vol. 1): The Art of Archiving Fashion can be downloaded here. To request interviews, contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at 602.257.2117 or samantha.santos@phxart.org.

About the Exhibition
The Collection: Greatest Fits (Vol. 1): The Art of Archiving Fashion is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Helen Jean, the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design at Phoenix Art Museum, with Catherine Wise, the Hirabayashi Intern in Fashion Design, and Summer Rye, intern.

It is presented through the generous support of Thomas Carlton Rogers II, Bennett and Jacquie Dorrance, the Kelly and Steve Ellman Fashion Endowment Fund,  and Arizona Costume Institute.  

All exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum are underwritten by the Phoenix Art Museum Exhibition Excellence Fund, founded by The Opatrny Family Foundation with additional major support provided by Joan Cremin.

Admission is free for Museum Members; youth aged 5 and younger; and Maricopa County Community Colleges students. Entrance into the exhibition is included in general admission for the public. Visitors may also enjoy reduced admission to the exhibition during voluntary-donation times on Wednesdays from 3 – 9 pm, made possible by SRP and City of Phoenix. For a full breakdown of general admission prices and hours, see phxart.org/visit/.

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) has engaged millions of visitors with the art of our region and world. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, PhxArt creates spaces of exchange and belonging for all audiences through dynamic exhibitions, collections, and experiences with art. Each year, 300,000 guests on average engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 21,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona in Tucson. PhxArt also presents live performances, outstanding examples of global cinema, arts-education programs and workshops, an art+music festival, and more for the community. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

About the Phoenix Art Museum Fashion Collection
Phoenix Art Museum is one of few institutions in the United States that continually collects, preserves, and exhibits works of fashion, placing the southwestern institution in the company of other leading fashion museums. The Museum began collecting fashion in 1966, when Arizona Costume Institute was founded to support the acquisition and preservation of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance. Today, the PhxArt fashion collection houses more than 9,000 objects of women’s, men’s, and children’s dress spanning the 18th century through the present. It is also home to three special archives, including the Geoffrey Beene Archive of more than 300 garments by the late designer gifted by Patsy Tarr; the Emphatics Archive, featuring avant-garde fashions by Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler, and others; and the Ann Bonfoey Taylor Archive, featuring the extraordinary custom-couture wardrobe of the American-socialite and tastemaker.

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PHOENIX (June 20, 2024) – Today, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) announces a major gift from longtime Museum supporters and former Board Trustees Kelly and Steve Ellman that enables the Museum to expand fivefold the footprint of its fashion galleries, dedicated to exhibitions that showcase the history and art of fashion. The Kelly Ellman Fashion Galleries will open on October 9, 2024 with the first exhibition in a three-part series that explores the depths of the Museum’s fashion holdings. Drawn exclusively from the PhxArt fashion collection, The Collection: Greatest Fits (Vol. 1): The Art of Archiving Fashion features more than 80 garments and accessories. The display traces the formation of the Museum’s collection and the impact of Arizona Costume Institute on its expansion, while showcasing the collection’s impressive breadth and depth. Iconic silhouettes from the 18^th century through the present and vignettes illustrating significant themes and historical moments demonstrate the collection’s ability to explore and educate about the larger history of fashion. In addition to the expanded gallery space and inaugural exhibition, the Ellman gift also ensures fashion-related acquisitions, publications, and the early phases of a major collection digitization project.

“We are deeply grateful to the Ellman family for their ongoing support of Phoenix Art Museum’s beloved fashion collection over the past three decades,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “Through major gifts, acquisition and programming support, and their continued invaluable patronage, the Ellmans have played a critical role in ensuring that PhxArt upholds excellence in this particular collecting area. Their impact has truly enabled the Museum to make the art of fashion accessible for our broadest audiences.”

Phoenix Art Museum is one of few institutions in the United States that continually collects, preserves, and exhibits works of fashion, placing the southwestern institution in the company of other leading fashion museums. The Museum began collecting fashion in 1966, when Arizona Costume Institute was founded to support the acquisition and preservation of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance. Today, the PhxArt fashion collection houses more than 9,000 objects of women’s, men’s, and children’s dress spanning the 18^th century through the present. It is also home to three special archives, including the Geoffrey Beene Archive of more than 300 garments by the late designer gifted by Patsy Tarr; the Emphatics Archive, featuring avant-garde fashions by Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler, and others; and the Ann Bonfoey Taylor Archive, featuring the extraordinary custom-couture wardrobe of the American-socialite and tastemaker.

The Ellman family has supported the Museum’s fashion collection since 1986, including a major gift that endowed the first iteration of the Ellman Fashion Design Gallery. This newest gift reaffirms the Museum’s commitment to increasing dedicated gallery space to our fashion collection, which now includes the entire mid-level floor of the Museum’s south wing. This change brings the institution’s permanent exhibition space for fashion from 1,200+ sq. ft. to nearly 6,400 sq. ft. The Ellman’s gift will also support future fashion exhibitions through the Kelly Ellman Fashion Endowment Fund, the establishment of the Ellman Fashion Program Fellow position, the first phases of a multi-year digitization project that will make the fashion collection more accessible to the general public on phxart.org, a collection publication created by SCALA Arts & Heritage Publishers, and fashion-related acquisitions that further strengthen and grow the Museum’s expansive fashion holdings.

The space’s inaugural exhibition, Greatest Fits (Vol. 1): The Art of Archiving Fashion, opens on October 9, 2024. Exhibition highlights include:

• A history on the founding of the Museum’s fashion collection, with an emphasis on the efforts of Arizona Costume Institute and notable supporters, including the Ellman family.
• A graphic display of more than 20 all-black silhouettes that have defined fashion history from the 18th century to the present.
• Vignettes of significant fashion “happenings” and themes, such as the Battle at Versailles, a high-fashion showdown between American and French designers in 1973; outstanding examples of avant-garde fashions; garments that draw inspiration from Romanticism and Greco-Roman culture; and technology-driven designs.

Notable designers and houses represented throughout Greatest Fits include:

“As the inaugural fashion presentation in the newly endowed Kelly Ellman Fashion Galleries, Greatest Fits (Vol. 1): The Art of Archiving Fashion will uncover and detail the strengths of our collection, while also highlighting exciting areas for potential growth and refinement,” said Helen Jean, the Museum’s Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design. “We are deeply grateful to the Ellmans for ensuring that this collection will continue to grow, educate, and inspire for generations to come.”

High-resolution photography for Greatest Fits (Vol. 1): The Art of Archiving Fashion can be downloaded here. To request interviews, contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at 602.257.2117 or samantha.santos@phxart.org.

About the Exhibitions
The Collection: Greatest Fits (Vol. 1): The Art of Archiving Fashion is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Helen Jean, the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design at Phoenix Art Museum, with Catherine Wise, the Hirabayashi Intern in Fashion Design, and Summer Rye, intern.

It is presented through the generous support of Thomas Carlton Rogers II, Bennett and Jacquie Dorrance, the Kelly and Steve Ellman Fashion Endowment Fund,  and Arizona Costume Institute.  

All exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum are underwritten by the Phoenix Art Museum Exhibition Excellence Fund, founded by The Opatrny Family Foundation with additional major support provided by Joan Cremin.

Admission is free for Museum Members; youth aged 5 and younger; and Maricopa County Community Colleges students. Entrance into the exhibition is included in general admission for the public. Visitors may also enjoy reduced admission to the exhibition during voluntary-donation times on Wednesdays from 3 – 9 pm, made possible by SRP and City of Phoenix. For a full breakdown of general admission prices and hours, see phxart.org/visit/.

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

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PHOENIX (May 1, 2024) – To complement the Arizona presentation of Barbie®: A Cultural Icon, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) curated original fashion exhibition The Power of Pink, which showcases over 200 years of powerfully pink fashions, a color which has become synonymous with the Barbie brand. Drawn largely from the Museum’s renowned fashion collection, the exhibition explores the color’s influence on fashion in all its complexities, tracing pink’s evolution from status symbol to gender marker to contemporary fashion statement. The Power of Pink is on view at Phoenix Art Museum through July 7, 2024.

The Power of Pink celebrates the complex history of the color pink, which is typically associated with feminine expression. The exhibition highlights examples of the color’s appeal to men and women across two centuries of style. From its origins in 17^th-century France, where it was worn by both men and women as a symbol of status, luxury, and power, to 1940s North America, where U.S. mass-marketing efforts began to gender the color, assigning pink to girls and blue to boys. Pink has been celebrated by generations of fashionistas. Through more than 20 garments and ensembles, The Power of Pink encourages thoughtful examination of the color and its influence on major designers such as Gianfranco Ferré, Christian Dior, Valentino, Chanel, and more.

One notable garment featured in the exhibition is a custom blush-toned suit worn by GRAMMY® Award-nominated, 8x RIAA diamond-certified global superstar Post Malone at the 2019 GRAMMY Awards. Created by Los Angeles-based costume designer and stylist Catherine Hahn, the dazzling garment decorated in glittering stars, was the latest in a long line of Western-inspired ensembles the musical artist wore that season, the same yearhe was dubbed “the cowboy king of the red carpet” by GQ and “a modern-day Elvis” by Vogue.

Images from The Power Pink can be downloaded here. To request interviews, contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at 602.257.2117 or samantha.santos@phxart.org.

About the Exhibition
The Power of Pink is organized by Phoenix Art Museum and curated by Helen Jean, the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design at Phoenix Art Museum. It is made possible through the generosity of Arizona Costume Institute, My Sister’s Closet, and the Kelly Ellman Fashion Design Endowment Fund. All exhibitions at Phoenix Art Museum are underwritten by the Phoenix Art Museum Exhibition Excellence Fund, founded by The Opatrny Family Foundation with additional major support provided by Joan Cremin.

The Power of Pink is not licensed, sponsored by, or affiliated with Mattel, Inc or Barbie™ and associated trademarks.

Admission is free for Museum Members; youth aged five and younger; and Maricopa County Community Colleges students. Entrance into the exhibition is included in general admission for the public. During voluntary donation times on Wednesdays from 3 – 9 pm, made possible by SRP and the City of Phoenix, admission to special-engagement exhibitions is offered at a discounted price. For a full breakdown of general-admission prices and hours, see phxart.org/visit/.

About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

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PHOENIX (December 22, 2021) – On December 6, 2021, Arizona Costume Institute (ACI), an affiliate group of Phoenix Art Museum, celebrated the return of its annual Holiday Luncheon by presenting Emmy-award winning designer Michael Costello as the keynote speaker. The in-person luncheon was the first major event hosted at Phoenix Art Museum since the institution’s closure in March 2020 precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The sold-out event welcomed more than 350 guests and raised a record-breaking $300,000+ in vital support for the Museum and its fashion-design department.

“We are very grateful to the board of Arizona Costume Institute and its members for their ongoing generous support of Phoenix Art Museum, particularly over the past year and a half when the Museum faced incredible challenges due to the pandemic,” said Mark Koenig, the Interim Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “For more than 60 years, ACI has supported our fashion-design collection, and once again, the Holiday Luncheon has raised vital funds that will benefit fashion-design exhibitions and education programs for our community. We extend our deepest thanks and congratulations to the chairs of this event, Donna Johnson and Lisa Shapiro, and to the entire planning committee for creating a truly memorable luncheon.” 

Costello, the event’s keynote speaker, is a self-taught designer who first began drawing dresses on his bedroom walls at the age of 2, and by 15, he had opened his first boutique. While many may recognize him from television’s Project Runway franchise, Costello has since built a massive empire by helping women of all shapes and sizes feel beautiful. His exquisite dresses have dominated every prestigious red-carpet award show, from the GRAMMYs to the Oscars, and the designer has dressed Beyoncé, JLo, Lady Gaga, Kate Hudson, and many others. His designs have been featured in international fashion publications, including Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, The New York Times’ style section, Harper’s Bazaar, and Apparel News, and several of his dresses are on display at the GRAMMY Museum.

In addition to the hosted interview between Costello and Helen Jean, the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design at Phoenix Art Museum, models wearing Costello’s most noteworthy designs walked among the luncheon’s guests, who enjoyed up-close-and-personal views of his stunning creations. The elegant event also featured a champagne reception, a plated two-course lunch, and a drawing featuring high-end, luxury items from both local and nationally recognized designers, boutiques, and businesses.

For media images (with IDs in the comments) from the ACI 2021 Holiday Luncheon, click here.

2021 ACI Holiday Luncheon Committee

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

Donna Johnson
Lisa Shapiro

HONORARY CHAIR

Diane Halle

COMMITTEE

Perrine Adams
Ronna Beeson
Lisa Bell
Matthew Boland
Jennifer Carmer
Libby Cohen
Oscar De las salas
Emily Dietz
Shawnee Doherty
Katherine Emery
Wendy Ferrell
Kati Festy-Sandor
Ann Fuller
Amanda Garmany
Lisa Geyser
Janet Henrich-Glaser
Jan Herwick
Dawna Holtz
Jill Krigsten Riley
Lynne Love
Barbara Lytle
Laura Madden
Kathie May
Mary Ellen McKee
Beth McRae
Priscilla Nicholas
Patti Oleson
Donna Pettigrew Hicks
Shirley Prest
Helene Presutti
Sherri Quinn
Marc Reed
Chrissy Sayare
Tracy Serena
Carol Shriber
Khamsone Sirimanivong
Amy Slethaug
Joy Sprink
Kelley Sucher
Lauri Termansen
Vicki Vaughn
DeeDee Vecchione
Kelly Welty

CORPORATE SPONSOR

to be continued… a consignment boutique

UNDERWRITERS

Main Dish
Miriam Sukhman
FORD/Robert Black Agency
Brenda Howard
Lauri Termansen
Trends Magazine
House Home & More
Psyne Co

About Arizona Costume Institute

Arizona Costume Institute was founded in 1966 to support the fashion-design department of Phoenix Art Museum through the acquisition and preservation of garments and accessories of historical and aesthetic significance and through events and fundraising efforts that support and deepen awareness of the Museum’s fashion-design exhibitions and education programs. ACI’s support of this collection area depends on the enthusiasm of dedicated volunteers. The ACI Board of Managers 2021 president is Khamsone Sirimanivong.  To learn more about Arizona Costume Institute, visit arizonacostumeinstitute.org.

About the Fashion-Design Collection at Phoenix Art Museum

Founded in 1966, the fashion-design collection of Phoenix Art Museum is notable for its quality and comprehensiveness. More than 8,000 objects comprise the collection, including American and European men’s, women’s, and children’s dress and accessories dating from the late 17th century to the present. The Museum organizes two fashion exhibitions annually, which are curated by Helen Jean, the institution’s Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design, and presented in the Kelly Ellman Fashion Design Gallery. Phoenix Art Museum is one of only seven art museums in the United States with a long and continuously active fashion-design program.

About Phoenix Art Museum

Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 300,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 20,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern and contemporary art, and fashion design. The Museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances, and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the Museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit phxart.org, or call 602.257.1880.

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