Museum Store Sunday
Shop with purpose as we join Museum Store Sunday on December 1.
What's On 2024
In Conversation: Anna Porter
Join us for an engaging evening with acclaimed author Anna Porter on December 11.
Winter Break at the BSM
Put on your party shoes with fun-filled activities through the Winter Break!
Art Wear
“What is art?” This question has sparked debate for centuries.
Exhibit A
Sleuth out the complex role of footwear in crime, policing, and the judiciary.
Dressed To Impress
Take a step back to the 1980s and experience the nostalgia and excess of the times. Now on view.
All About Shoes
Take a walk through the the fascinating history of footwear.
Media Room
Find our latest press releases and more information on media images and interview requests.
Follow Us @batashoemuseum
Did you know that Vern Taylor was the first Canadian skater to land a triple axel? Learn more about the story of Canadian figure skating by exploring our online exhibition Boots & Blades on our website ⛸️
Pictured: Wrought iron blades featuring an extended toe curl are mounted to the wood platform on metal posts. Leather straps are missing. C. 1780-1850.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, artist Peter Max was arguably the most influential artist in the Western world. His psychedelic artwork was uplifting, counterculture in feel, and yet extremely marketable. By 1969, he had over 50 commercial licensing agreements, including one with the Randolph Rubber Company to create a series of sneakers for men, women, and children. A comment from a friend warning Max that all he was going to be remembered for were his “commodities” rather than his “artwork” reflected the sharp divide in how art was perceived, and caused Max to stop all commercial work for decades. This pair of high tops features Peter Max’s style, including his signature smiling mouth at the back quarters.
See these shoes on view in our latest exhibition Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists 👟
📷: Darren Rigo
Sponsored by: @blogto @curiocitytoronto @dailyhivetoronto @fashioncanada @nowtoronto
We had an incredible time with our Founder`s Lecture speaker Dr. D`Wayne Edwards last night! He provided a captivating lecture about his experience in the footwear industry, how he founded PENSOLE, the legacy he wants to leave behind and more. It definitely inspired us all to continue chasing after our dreams 👟
📷: @silentjae
This pair of handmade, bespoke button boots reflects the infusion
of erotically charged references in women’s dress that emerged
at the end of the 19th century. These boots were designed to look like a stockinged leg in a shoe. Although the majority of the calf-hugging shaft and elaborate gold kid appliqué would have
been hidden under their wearer’s skirt, any glimpse would have
tantalized the onlooker.
Swedish or German, c. 1890s
This 1970s men’s heeled loafer is a cheaper knockoff of the sleek designer versions
worn by international jetsetters in this decade. Despite its elegant design, this shoe
was used for nefarious purposes. The hollow heel enabled the wearer to hide illicit substances.
Loafer with heel compartment, Swiss, c. 1970s
Collection of Musée de la Police Criminelle, Lausanne
Thank you so much to everyone who attended our Masterpiece Panel a couple of weeks ago ~ panelists @elizabethsemmelhack, @ashleymckenziebarnes @abbyalbino and Julian Cox from the @agotoronto delved into the multifaceted world of art and its profound impact on fashion. Stay tuned as we announce more exhibition-related programming!
Unboxing: @mschf BWD shoes
Featured in our exhibition Art/Wear, @msch`d BWD shoe is designed to be worn backwards. As their description states, “Life can only be understood backwards but must be lived forward. That’s why you need two pairs of shoes, one for living and one for understanding.” The BWD shoes can only be worn backwards, and that their existence implies the existence of FWD shoes 👟
In 2022, Murakami began collaborating with @RTFKT (pronounced “artifact”), a company acquired by Nike in 2022 focused on creating avatars and fashion in the Metaverse. For Murakami, “the Metaverse is a forbidden fruit. Once you’ve touched it, you cannot go back to the time before you did,” and he has worked to bring his work into this new space. The majority of RTFKT’s creations are exclusive to the virtual realm, but their works are sometimes “forged,” meaning a small number of items are made physical for use in the real world. This pair of Murakami DNA Air Force 1s is an example. One of only 167 pairs, it features Murakami’s artwork digitally printed onto the leather upper.
Murakami × RTFKT × Nike Air Force 1 - Murakami DNA, 2024. Gift of RTFKT
On view in our exhibition Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists. Sponsored by: @blogto @curiocitytoronto @dailyhivetoronto @fashioncanada @nowtoronto