What's On 2024

Art Wear

Art Wear

“What is art?” This question has sparked debate for centuries.

Exhibit A

Exhibit A

Sleuth out the complex role of footwear in crime, policing, and the judiciary.

Dressed To Impress

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

All About Shoes

Take a walk through the the fascinating history of footwear.

Media Room

Media Room

Find our latest press releases and more information on media images and interview requests.

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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
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Off the Shelf: Episode 152✨

Learn more about this pair of playful sandals by Donna Karan from our collection!
#getcultured #museumtok #learnontiktok
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Dive into how footwear plays a critical role in solving crime by watching our new exhibition tour of Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear, narrated by @elizabethsemmelhack and @alisonmd ~ live on our YouTube channel

📹: @lilacmediagroup
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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
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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
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Join us for an engaging evening on December 11 with acclaimed author Anna Porter as she delves into the captivating worlds of mystery and crime writing, inspired by Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear. Tickets available on our website. ...

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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 👟
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Find us at @art_toronto from October 25 - 27 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre 🔍 We`ll be at Booth A07 so you can learn more about our exhibition Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists 👟 ...

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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
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There`s something for everyone at the BSM! Try on funky footwear, play iSpy in the galleries, explore 4,500 years worth of history and more. Don`t forget, we`re free every Sunday 🎉

Tickets do not need to be reserved in advance and all galleries are included.
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