"Muriel King: Artist of Fashion" Exhibition
The Museum at FIT
This event has ended.
Sought out in the 1930s and 40s by the glamorous women of Hollywood and high society, but largely overlooked today, the unique American designer Muriel King (1900-1977) will be rediscovered in Muriel King: Artist of Fashion, on view at The Museum at FIT from March 10 through April 4, 2009.
This is the first exhibition dedicated exclusively to King, whose career spanned four decades, from the 1920s to the 1960s. The exhibition and accompanying brochure, organized and curated by FIT graduate students in the Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice program, will provide new scholarship, introduce Muriel King to the general public, highlight her artistic legacy, and identify her place within fashion history.
Interestingly, Muriel King had no formal training. She did not cut, drape, or sew. Rather, she created watercolor fashion sketches detailing the construction and look of her designs, which her tailors and sewing staff then worked into garments.
Muriel King: Artist of Fashion will showcase King's superb sketches, many of which now belong to the Special Collections of the Gladys Marcus Library at FIT. Also included will be her fashion designs for prominent clients, department stores, and Hollywood films. Collectively, these will display the variety of recurring design elements in King's work, including lace, cascading ruffles, and armor-inspired embellishments. A selection of garments from The Museum at FIT's collection will also be featured, as will photographs of women wearing King's clothes. Muriel King: Artist of Fashion will tell the story of King's career, emphasizing her significant contributions to both the art and business of fashion.
Media
Schedule
from March 10, 2009 to April 04, 2009