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 current FLOTUS Dr. Jill Biden, former FLOTUS Michelle Obama and 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 15 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 exhibitions, 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 exhibition 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 Bravo’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. This past spring, he launched the second collection of his furniture line, and this fall, he’ll release a new book called CHRISTIAN SIRIANO: THE NEW RED CARPET. 

In addition to a fashion presentation from Christian Siriano, attendees of the 2024 ACI Holiday Luncheon will enjoy a champagne reception, luxury item raffle and lunch. Table Hosts who purchase a table at $7,500 or higher, and single ticket purchasers at the VIP level, will receive (1) one invitation to a private VIP event prior to the luncheon. 

Seating for the 2024 ACI Holiday Luncheon is limited. Tickets will be available online on Monday, September 30, with table and sponsorship opportunities also available. 

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 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, 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 Fashion Collection of 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 17^th-century sueded-leather gloves to 21^st-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 19^th-century womenswear as well as works by 20^th-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. 

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Effective October 2, 2024, the Museum’s hours of operation will be as follows:

• Monday – Tuesday // Closed
• Wednesday – Friday // 10 am – 8 pm
• Saturday – Sunday // 10 am – 5 pm

From 5 – 8 pm on the first Friday of each month, general admission will be a voluntary donation, with discounted rates to view special-engagement exhibitions. First Friday programs will include a resident DJ and cash bar, along with art-making activities and more. Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays will remain every Wednesday, with program hours shifting to 3 – 8 pm, featuring voluntary general admission and discounted rates to view special-engagement exhibitions.

First Fridays are made possible by APS and Lexus. Pay-What-You-Wish Wednesdays are made possible through the generosity of SRP and City of Phoenix. For more information or to request an interview, contact the Communications Office of Phoenix Art Museum at 602.257.2117 or samantha.santos@phxart.org.

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 (October 11, 2022) – On November 4 from 5–9 pm in conjunction with First Friday, Phoenix Art Museum will host a free community event to celebrate the opening of the new major contemporary art exhibition Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town. Sponsored by Men’s Arts Council and UMB Bank, the evening will feature a free public preview of the exhibition at 6 pm, offering community members the opportunity to experience You Can Hear the Song of This Town before it officially opens on November 6. The usual $5 fee for special-engagement exhibitions on First Friday will be waived for all visitors that evening. Tickets can be reserved here.

Festivities will also include in-person programming that will immerse guests in anime and Japanese popular culture, as well as Japanese music and visual traditions. Entertainment for the evening includes:

• A performance by Ken Koshio (@kenkoshio), featuring taiko drumming and storytelling accompanied by artist Yuko Yabuki (@yukoyabuki6666)
• A collaboration with Ganbatte Pop-up (@ganbattepopup), featuring activities for visitors of all ages
• Music by DJ Stoney Pie (@stoneypie)
• An anime-themed photo backdrop with cosplayers inspired by @misteryanen
• An art activity by @Loveshinobi
• A scavenger hunt with prizes (while supplies last)
• Themed food and beverage, including boba-inspired drinks by Crafti Tea & Mocktails (@crafti.tea)
• Japanese-inspired street food vendors and anime-inspired drinks by ArtTenders

Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town is the first U.S. solo exhibition in more than five years to exclusively showcase the work of Mr., one of today’s most popular Japanese artists. Spanning the late 1990s to 2022, the exhibition features a large selection of paintings, drawings, sculptures, and video works, including a recent Museum acquisition and a new 33-foot-long canvas that will enjoy its world premiere at Phoenix Art Museum. These vivid and often chaotic works—many of which were created in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic—draw influence from anime, manga, and virtual fantasy worlds to examine themes of desire, tragedy, and psychological anguish.

Mr.: You Can Hear the Song of This Town will be on view from November 6, 2022 through March 12, 2023 in Steele Gallery at Phoenix Art Museum. It is made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor, Ronald and Valery Harrar, Men’s Arts Council, Ms. Isabelle Georgeaux, Kevie Yang, The Japan Foundation–Los Angeles, and the Museum’s Circles of Support and Museum Members. Admission is free for Museum Members; veterans, activity-duty military, and their immediate families; youth aged 5 and younger; and Maricopa Community Colleges students with an active ID. Entrance into the exhibition is included in general admission for the public. During voluntary-donation times, the exhibition is $5 for the general public. Voluntary-donation times include Wednesdays from 3–9 pm, made possible by SRP and supported in part through the generosity of the Angela and Leonard Singer Endowment for Performing Arts, and the first Friday of each month from 3–9 pm. For a full breakdown of general-admission prices and hours, see phxart.org/visit/.

High-resolution photography 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 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 leading 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.

About Mr.
Mr. (b. 1969, Cupa, Japan, lives and works in Saitama, Japan) approaches the visual language of anime and manga as a means of examining Japanese culture, fusing high and low forms of contemporary expression. Like his fellow Superflat artists, such as Takashi Murakami, Mr. utilizes otaku, the “cute” Japanese subculture that is marked by an obsession with adolescence, manga, anime, and video games. Mr. graduated in 1996 from the Department of Fine Arts, Sokei Art School in Tokyo. Solo exhibitions of his work have been organized at HOW Art Museum, Shanghai, China (2021); Musée Guimet, Paris, France (2019); Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA (2014); and Musée d’Art Contemporain de Lyon, Lyon, France (2006), among others. Select group exhibitions featuring his work include MURAKAMI VS MURAKAMI, Tai Kwun Contemporary, Hong Kong (2019); Bishojo: Monsters, Manga and Murakami, Musée en Herbe, Paris, France (2019); and Islands, Constellations & Galapagos, Yokohama Triennale, Yokohama, Japan (2017). His work is in numerous international public and private collections, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Seattle Art Museum, and Daegu Art Museum in South Korea.

Image Credit: Mr., Amy—Quiet Before Dawn, 2021. Acrylic on canvas mounted on wood panel, 35.43 x 52.8 x 2.01 inches (90 x 134.1 x 5.1 cm). ©2021 Mr./Kaikai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Courtesy Lehmann Maupin, New York, Hong Kong, Seoul, and London.

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