SCADFash Winter Exhibitions (fridays)

From the venue:

‘Imane Ayissi: From Africa to the World’

thru Feb. 23, 2025

A guest of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode and recipient of the Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Cameroonian designer Imane Ayissi creates garments that aesthetically blend African craftmanship and hallmarks of the French sensibility. Frequently incorporating exquisite Lyon silk as well as natural and upcycled materials, his meticulous designs are sumptuous constructions that emphasize corporeal movement, stemming from his background as a dancer and model. Dedicated to amplifying the culturally rich textile and sartorial heritage of Africa on the international stage, Ayissi reexamines and challenges the Western-oriented world of haute couture. With an emphasis on traditional elements from across the continent, his couture pieces prominently feature raffia, Obom bark cloth, Faso Dan Fani stripes, and Kente cloth. Journeying through more than 40 signature looks, the designer’s debut solo exhibition Imane Ayissi: From Africa to the World embodies his singular energy, contextualizing his role within Africa’s larger contributions to fashion while expanding understandings of global luxury.

Imane Ayissi: From Africa to the World is curated by Rafael Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums.

exhibit page here

‘Sandy Powell’s Dressing the Part: Costume Design for Film’

Recipient of the prestigious BAFTA Fellowship, Sandy Powell is a formidable force in the filmmaking industry. Her work is continually recognized and celebrated among her peers, earning the highest honors for achievement in costume design, including three Academy Awards. Her longstanding collaborations with directors Martin Scorsese, Todd Haynes, and Neil Jordan and actors Julianne Moore, Tilda Swinton, and Cate Blanchett have encouraged Powell to design costumes that become characters of their own and vehicles of discovery for those who embody them.

In the debut exhibition of her work, visitors bear witness to Powell’s 40-year career of storytelling within a series of vignettes featuring more than 70 costumes from nearly 30 films, including Shakespeare in Love, The Wolf of Wall Street, and How to Talk to Girls at Parties. Experiencing Powell’s practice across an array of genres, periods, and realities, viewers are immersed in her legacy of worldbuilding.

Sandy Powell’s Dressing the Part: Costume Design for Film is curated by Rafael Gomes, creative director of SCAD FASH museums.

exhibit page here