Art Wear
New exhibition opens October 3rd.
What's On 2024
Innocence Canada Panel Talk
Join us for an honest, and impactful look at wrongful convictions in Canada on October 20.
Indigenous Beading Workshop – Orange Shirt Pin
Join Cree-Métis artist Marissa Magneson for a beginner friendly beading workshop!
2024 Founder’s Lecture
Join us for this year's Founder's Lecture with one of the world’s leading experts on diversity in design Dr. D'Wayne Edwards!
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
Join us for our annual Founder`s Lecture this year on Tuesday, November 5 as we welcome designer, educator, and trailblazer Dr. D’Wayne Edwards as our special guest speaker. Our Director and Senior Curator @elizabethsemmelhack and Edwards will explore the convergence of culture, dress, and society through the lens of sneakers. Purchase your tickets on our website.
Join the Bata Shoe Museum and Innocence Canada (@innocencecanada) for an honest, and impactful look at wrongful convictions in Canada on Sunday, October 20 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This panel talk will look at wrongful convictions through the experiences of those who have lived through it, and those who have made a significant impact through their efforts to help clear the names of the victims of wrongful incarceration. RSVP by visiting our website.
The soft felt soles of these Parisian cat-burglar’s, or cambrioleur’s, overshoes were designed to slip over a thief’s street shoes in order to muffle their steps, making them
as silent as a cat. Once the break and enter was completed, the cat-burglar could slip the overshoes off and appear in pedestrian attire with their footsteps once again adding to the noise of the street.
Cat-burglar overshoes, French, 1900–1920
Collection of the Paris Police Museum, on view in "Exhibit A: Investigating Crime and Footwear"
NEW EXHIBITION ALERT 📢
“What is art?” This question has sparked debate for centuries, and today, the boundaries of what defines art are being pushed further than ever. One significant shift is the growing trend of artists engaging in commercial collaborations, particularly with sneaker brands, offering consumers the opportunity to buy and wear creations by some of the most revered figures in the art world. Through their deconstruction, repurposing, and political use of sneakers, these artists invite viewers to reconsider the intersections between art, fashion, and identity in the modern world. Art/Wear: Sneakers and Artists asks why artists are drawn to working on/with sneakers and why so many of us are interested in wearing these pieces. Opening on October 3, 2024. Mark your calendars 🗓️👟
Artists on view: Aaron Fowler (@aaronfowlerstudio), Alife (@alifenewyork), Andrew Mania (@andrew.mania), Bryant Giles (@bryantdgiles), Cey Adams (@ceyadams), Damien Hirst (@damienhirst), Daniel Arsham (@danielarsham), Dave White (@davewhitestudio), ESPO (@esposartworld), Futura (@futuradosmil), Eric Haze (@erichazenyc), Hebru Brantley (@hebrubrantley), Javier Calleja (@javicalleja), Jean-Michel Basquiat, Judi Werthein (@jujuworth), Kate Knudsen (@katekanoo), KAWS (@kaws), Keith Haring (@keithharingfoundation), Kenzo Minami (@kenzominami), Mache (@mache275), Michael Lau (@michaellau), MSCHF (@mschf), Peter Max (@petermaxart), Ruohan Wang (@ruo_han_wang), Shantell Martin (@shantell_martin), Stash (@mr_stash), Takashi Murakami (@takashipom), Tom Sachs (@tomsachs), Vicky Vuong (@cestlavic), and Virgil Abloh (@virgilabloh).
Recycling is a mainstay of sustainability and sneaker manufacturers are increasingly finding ways to reuse materials that they previously might have discarded. F_WD, pronounced forward, was founded by Onward Luxury Group in 2019 as a streetwear brand dedicated to sleek sustainability. Its first collections were created by shoe designer Raphael Young whose futuristic designs were vegan, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) approved and made of recycled and recyclable materials.
Photo: Kailee Mandel
The end of the 18th century saw the rise of Neoclassical restraint in design and an increase in social unrest foretelling the French Revolution. Encouraged to make more modest fashion statements, the privileged shifted away from the exuberant brocades used earlier in the century and embraced a more subdued palette of plain silks or printed leathers. Shoes with leather applique such as this pair were termed sandals and the applique was meant to suggest sandal straps.
There are over 10,000 species of grass, and many cultures have traditionally used it to make socks and footwear. Grass is abundant, insulating and moisture wicking, and it can be woven into a wide range of shapes.
Along the southern coast of Alaska, Yup’ik and Unangan women historically made grass socks to be worn as liners in sealskin boots. Moss or fur was first placed in the sole of the boot for warmth. Grass socks added another protective and breathable layer. This Unangan pair was made by splitting and twining grass.
Unangan, 1910.
On view on in our exhibition "In Bloom: Flowers and Footwear".