PHOENIX (November 29, 2022) – This winter, Phoenix Art Museum will premiere MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene, a major fashion-design exhibition celebrating the dynamic fashions of the late designer renowned for revolutionizing American sportswear and for his trailblazing runway ballets. Organized by Phoenix Art Museum with the support of Authentic Brands Group (ABG) and featuring garments drawn from the institution’s Geoffrey Beene Archive, the exhibition features a wide array of jumpsuits, jackets, and dresses, along with materials and ephemera from Beene’s personal archive, which will be displayed to the public for the first time. MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene will be on view from February 1 through July 23, 2023, in the Ellman, Harnett and Orme Lewis galleries at Phoenix Art Museum.

“Geoffrey Beene was a fashion innovator who created garments that were unparalleled in their combination of extravagance, comfort, and precision,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum. “MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene illuminates his impact on contemporary fashion, from streamlined jumpsuits to athleisure wear, while offering a rare
glimpse into his distinctive creative process. We are excited to present Beene’s groundbreaking designs and engage our Phoenix community with the latest archive of work in our internationally recognized fashion-design collection.”

Considered the godfather of American sportswear and one of the most whimsical designers in history, Geoffrey Beene created modern, minimal designs that prioritized comfort, mobility, and luxury. Born in Louisiana in 1927, Beene studied medicine for three years at Tulane University before pursuing a career in fashion. He attended New York’s Trapenhagen School of Fashion and eventually relocated to Paris to study at L’École de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. With unrivaled tailoring skills, Beene got his first fashion job in 1951 as an atelier designer. He then worked as a womenswear designer for Teal Traina until 1963, when he launched his own label. In 1967, Beene designed a wedding dress for Lynda Bird Johnson Robb, daughter of the then-U.S. President Lyndon Baines Johnson and First Lady Claudia “Lady Bird” Johnson. In the same year, he unveiled a sequined floor-length “football jersey” evening gown, illustrating his ability to not only appeal to the tastes of society’s elite but also create imaginative garments that reflected his distinct wit, humor, and artistic vision.

In the 1970s, following a searing critique that his party dresses resembled “concrete,” Beene moved away from structured silhouettes and adopted pliable materials such as double-knit jersey, which at the time were primarily used in t-shirts, to construct stylized designs that ensured mobility and comfort, molding to the wearer with ease. He went on to earn widespread acclaim for prioritizing comfort and luxury through designs such as versatile jumpsuits, intricately detailed boleros, and elegant evening gowns, fortifying his legacy as a visionary of modern dressing.

Beene’s rebellious spirit also extended to the runway. Beginning in the early ’90s, the designer eschewed the conventions of global fashion weeks and traditional catwalks, introducing various multimedia and performance elements into his presentations. His Fall 1991 show, which he deemed a “multifaceted media show,” was set at the School of American Ballet, utilized video projections and artistic lighting schemes, and featured posed mannequins and dancing models to create an immersive fashion experience. In 1992, he began working with the New York City Ballet, casting dancers alongside models to wear his garments while performing choreography to demonstrate the mobility engineered into his designs. Throughout his career, Beene received various awards and accolades, including eight Coty Fashion Critics Awards and a lifetime achievement award in 1998 from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. He was also inducted into the Fashion Hall of Fame. His work can be found in the collections of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, de Young Museum, Fashion Institute of Technology, Victoria and Albert Museum, and Phoenix Art Museum, among many other internationally renowned fashion collections.

MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene spans three galleries and offers deep insight into Beene’s remarkable career while showcasing his impeccably tailored and unapologetically playful designs. The exhibition’s first gallery features materials and ephemera from the designer’s personal archive on loan from ABG, which today owns and manages the Geoffrey Beene trademark. These objects, including photographs, contact sheets, press kits, and more, are on view publicly for the first time and provide an intimate view into Beene’s distinct design process and forward-thinking vision for women’s clothing.

“We are incredibly proud to partner with Phoenix Art Museum to celebrate Geoffrey Beene and his legendary career as a designer and visionary,” said Natasha Fishman, Chief Communications Officer and EVP Marketing at ABG. “Beene’s contributions to the fashion industry continue to make an impact on today’s trends, and we are thrilled be a part of this first-of-its-kind public exhibition.”

Visitors will also have the opportunity to experience a large selection of works drawn from the Geoffrey Beene Archive at Phoenix Art Museum, the majority of which are on view for the first time and were gifted to the Museum in 2019 by Patsy Tarr. These garments—many of which were custom-made for Tarr—include dozens of the designer’s most cleverly devised silhouettes from the late 1980s through the early 2000s that were conceived as part of a fully interchangeable wardrobe of jumpsuits, boleros, jackets, and gowns for the modern, on-the-move, professional woman.

The exhibition’s third and final gallery explores how Beene fused design with ballet and re-imagined fashion-show presentations altogether. Garments appear to dance throughout the gallery as if suspended in motion. The format and presentation of this particular section of the exhibition channels the energy and vibrancy of Beene’s groundbreaking runway shows.

“Geoffrey Beene was, at his core, a fashion rebel,” said Helen Jean, the Museum’s Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design, responsible for the curation of this exhibition. “He disregarded trends and instead preferred to design garments that began as geometric shapes and evolved into silhouettes that moved naturally with the human form. This prioritization of movement, this celebration of boundless, maximum mobility is evident throughout his work, his process and his runway presentations. Plus, his evening gowns had pockets!”

Along with featured works and archival materials, MOVE presents various multimedia elements, including video interviews with the dancers, models, muses, and choreographers who helped bring Beene’s runway ballets to life.

About the Exhibition
MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene is organized by Phoenix Art Museum with the support of Authentic Brands Group, LLC. It is made possible through the generosity of Major Sponsors Ellen and Howard C. Katz, Partner Sponsor The Virginia M. Ullman Foundation, and Contributing Sponsors Miriam and Yefim Sukhman.

Additional support provided by KJZZ/KBACH, Arizona Costume Institute, the Kelly Ellman Fashion Design Endowment Fund, and Kimpton Hotel Palomar.

Admission is free for Museum Members; veterans, active-duty military, and their immediate families; 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 – 9 pm, made possible by SRP and supported in part through the generosity of the Angela and Leonard Singer Endowment for Performing Arts. 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 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.

About Authentic Brands Group
Authentic Brands Group (ABG) is a brand development, marketing and entertainment company, which owns a portfolio of global media, entertainment and lifestyle brands. Headquartered in New York City, with offices around the world, ABG elevates and builds the long-term value of more than 50 consumer brands and properties by partnering with best-in-class manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers. Its brands have a global retail footprint across the luxury, specialty, department store, mid-tier, mass and e-commerce channels and in more than 9,100 freestanding stores and shop-in-shops around the world.

ABG is committed to transforming brands by delivering compelling product, content, business and immersive experiences. It creates and activates original marketing strategies to drive the success of its brands across all consumer touchpoints, platforms and emerging media.

ABG’s portfolio of iconic and world-renowned brands generates more than $24 billion in global annual retail sales, and includes Marilyn Monroe®, Elvis Presley®, Muhammad Ali®, Shaquille O’Neal®, David Beckham®, Dr. J®, Greg Norman®, Neil Lane®, Thalia®, Sports Illustrated®, Reebok®, Eddie Bauer®, Spyder®, Volcom®, Airwalk®, Nautica®, Izod®, Forever 21®, Aéropostale®, Juicy Couture®, Vince Camuto®, Lucky Brand®, Nine West®, Jones New York®, Frederick’s of Hollywood®, Adrienne Vittadini®, Van Heusen®, Arrow®, Tretorn®, Tapout®, Prince®, Vision Street Wear®, Brooks Brothers®, Barneys New York®, Judith Leiber®, Ted Baker®, Hervé Léger®, Frye®, Hickey Freeman®, Hart Schaffner Marx®, Thomasville®, Drexel® and Henredon®.

For more information, visit authenticbrands.com.
Follow ABG on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Image Credit: (Left to right) Geoffrey Beene, Scarf, Fall 2003. Silk satin. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Patsy Tarr; Geoffrey Beene, Jumpsuit, Fall 1994. Silk crepe. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Patsy Tarr; Geoffrey Beene, Jacket, Fall 2003. Silk duchess satin with silk satin appliques, metallic embroidery and paillettes. Collection of Phoenix Art Museum, Gift of Patsy Tarr. Courtesy of Phoenix Art Museum, Photo: Dan Vermillion

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Saturday, January 28, 2023
Phoenix Art Museum presents the Gala Exhibition Opening of
MOVE: The Modern Cut of Geoffrey Beene
and
the pARTy

Sponsorship and table-hosting opportunities available now.
Contact special.events@phxart.org or 602.307.2082 for more information.

The post The pARTy 2023 appeared first on Phoenix Art Museum.

PHOENIX (March 11, 2021) – Phoenix Art Museum and Arizona Costume Institute (ACI), a Museum affiliate group that supports the institution’s fashion-design collection, presented Geoffrey Beene: A Duet of Fashion and Movement, the virtual unveiling of the new Geoffrey Beene Archive at Phoenix Art Museum, on Thursday, February 11, 2021. The virtual fundraiser engaged nearly 600 guests and raised more than $133,000 of vital support for the Museum’s fashion-design exhibitions, acquisitions, educational programs, and archival preservation.

“We are deeply grateful to the board of Arizona Costume Institute and its members for their ongoing generous support of Phoenix Art Museum,” said Tim Rodgers, PhD, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “ACI continues to play a pivotal role in building the Museum’s renowned fashion-design collection, which now includes the newly established Geoffrey Beene Archive. We extend our thanks to the planning committee of dedicated ACI members who organized this superb event and to our benefactors and community for supporting this landmark moment in our institution’s history. We also extend special gratitude to Patsy Tarr, whose donation of nearly 400 garments serves as the foundation of our expansive Beene Archive.” 

Attendees of the virtual event enjoyed the world premiere of a short film created by the Museum in collaboration with Phoenix-based Manley Films that closely examines 25 works from the Beene Archive and explores the sense of movement and artistry inherent in the late designer’s work. The evening also featured Patsy Tarr, founding contributor to the Beene Archive at Phoenix Art Museum, president of the 2wice Arts Foundation, and founder and publisher of 2wice magazine and books; a dance homage by former dancer for the New York City Ballet and longtime Beene model Deanna McBrearty; and a conversation between McBrearty and Doug Varone, choreographer for three runway presentations of Beene’s collections, which featured dancers from the School of American Ballet and the New York City Ballet.

In addition to the Beene film and featured speakers, the evening included messages from Tim Rodgers, PhD, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO; Helen Jean, the Museum’s Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design; and Kathie May, president of Arizona Costume Institute. The event also engaged students from local high schools and colleges by inviting them to participate in a Geoffrey Beene-inspired style and design contest. Attendees of the event were encouraged to vote for their favorite designs, and all student participants received recognition for their outstanding work. A Duet of Fashion and Movement, which additionally featured a style-focused raffle and silent auction, replaced the annual ACI Holiday Luncheon, which has been postponed to December 6, 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and raises vital funds each year in support of the Museum’s fashion-design program.

Phoenix Art Museum is deeply grateful to the benefactors and underwriters who supported Arizona Costume Institute and the Museum’s fashion-design department through Geoffrey Beene: A Duet of Fashion and Movement.

BEENE BENEFACTORS ($5,000+)

Lee Cohn

Gloria Cowen

Jacquie Dorrance

Kelly Ellman

Judy Goldberg

Janet Henrich Glaser

Brenda Howard

Jane Jozoff

Ellen Katz

Margot Knight

Polly Levine

Janis Lyon

Ina Manaster

Mary Ellen McKee

Kolby Moffatt

Carole Moreno

Patricia Petznick

Lisa Portigal

Jana Sample

Sue Selig

Paula Smalley

PREMIER DONORS ($1,000+)

Amy Cohn

Catherine Dickey

Sally Lehmann

Janice Lewart

Kathie May

Doris Ong

EN VOGUE DONORS ($500+)

Linda Jones

Barbara Sturdivant

Sheila Zuieback

COUTURE DONORS ($250+)

Alice Bazlen

Sandy Becker

Ronna Beeson

Vanessa Boehm

Kay Butler

Dena Cameron

Stephanie Cargill

Iris Cashdan-Fishman

Eleanor Corridan

Shelly Dessen

Ruby Farias

Wendy Farrell

Amy Flood

Kate Groves

Donna Johnson

Barbara Kammerzell

Linda Langer

Agnes Lardizabal

Miranda Lumer

Andrea Mackie

John Otto

Linda Peshkin

Helene Presutti

Rebel Rice

Carrie Lynn Richardson

Sue Robisch

Lois Savage

Lisa Shapiro

Khamsone Sirimanivong

Ina Smeets Kort

Diana Smith

Sandy Solomon

Joy Sprink

Todd and Kelley Sucher

Ingrid Sutton

UNDERWRITERS

Fairmount Development, LLC

Karma Event Productions

JL Patisserie

Manley Films

The Red Book

RAFFLE & AUCTION DONORS

ARTenders

Dazzle Dry

Francine Restaurant

Gorgeous Things

Jewel Ya

Katalin Festy-Sandor

Kelley Sucher

Kiss Me Kate

Maple & Ash

MD Skin Lounge and Bar

Neiman Marcus

OBJECTS

Pax Philomena

Perrine Adams

Rosa Kilgore

Saint by Sarah Jane

Sandy Becker

Shapiro Aesthetic Plastic Surgery & Skin Klinic

Soul Carrier

SoulCare by CCC/ SoulCare in Surplus

The Collector’s House

The Garment League

The Museum Store

The Paper Place

Vibrant Skin Bar

Vim and Vigor Candle Co.

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa

White Sun

Phoenix Art Museum extends its deepest thanks to the planning committee of Geoffrey Beene: A Duet of Fashion and Movement, including committee chairs Perrine Adams, Ruby Farias, Laura Madden, and Kelley Sucher; committee members Sandy Becker, Amy Gause, Janet Henrich Glaser, Jan Herwick, Kathie May, and Khamsone Sirimanivong; Helen Jean, the Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion Design; and Christina Brown, Director of Membership Programs at Phoenix Art Museum. The Museum also expresses its gratitude to Ellen Katz, longtime Museum supporter and Honorary Trustee.

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.

About the Fashion-Design Collection of Phoenix Art Museum

Founded in 1966, the fashion-design collection of Phoenix Art Museum features more than 8,000 objects, 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 that draw from the renowned collection and are presented in the Kelly Ellman Fashion Design Gallery. Phoenix Art Museum is one of only seven art museums in the country with a long and continuously active fashion program.

About the Geoffrey Beene Archive at Phoenix Art Museum

The Geoffrey Beene Archive at Phoenix Art Museum features more than 400 garments by the late designer, more than 350 of which were donated in 2019 to the Museum by Patsy Tarr, president of the 2wice Arts Foundation and founder and publisher of 2wice magazines and books. Spanning the 1980s through the 1990s, Tarr’s gift of custom-made ensembles and accessories, including jumpsuits, trousers, vests, boleros, gowns, collars, and more, established the Museum as one of the nation’s leading institutions with holdings of Beene’s designs. The Geoffrey Beene Archive at Phoenix Art Museum is one of three archives in the Museum’s renowned fashion-design collection of more than 8,000 objects, joined by the Museum’s Ann Bonfoey Taylor Archive, featuring the extraordinary custom-couture wardrobe of American-socialite and tastemaker Ann Bonfoey Taylor, and the Emphatics Archive, featuring rare, avant-garde fashions and accessories by renowned designers such as Alexander McQueen, Issey Miyake, Thierry Mugler, John Galliano, and Jean Paul Gaultier.

About Arizona Costume Institute

Arizona Costume Institute (ACI) was founded in 1966 to support the fashion-design department of Phoenix Art Museum. ACI promotes the appreciation and understanding of fashion design through education programs and fundraising efforts that benefit the Museum’s fashion exhibitions and support the preservation and acquisition of historically and aesthetically significant works. Through the enthusiasm of dedicated volunteers, ACI helps maintain and expand the Museum’s fashion collection. To learn more about Arizona Costume Institute, visit arizonacostumeinstitute.org.

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