Beadazzled: The Art of Beaded Footwear Around the World
On view October 22, 2026, until April 2028
Beads are a popular form of ornamentation found on footwear from around the world. This exhibition showcases beautifully beaded footwear from far global reaches, spanning over 400 years of history. Beads are fragile and require great effort and skill to apply by hand, and this labour-intensive form of embellishment has been used in both decorative and symbolic ways across cultures, expressing status, identity, and spirituality. Showcasing over 85 objects, this exhibit explores the technology of bead making, the invention of glass and the steel needles, the role of hand-beading during the rise of industrialization, and the global spread and application of beadwork. The exhibit features intricately adorned footwear across diverse global cultures – from Peranakan slippers to Indigenous moccasins, and Persian royal shoes.
Curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator, Bata Shoe Museum; Nishi Bassi, Curator and Manager of Exhibitions, Bata Shoe Museum; and Justine Woods, Assistant Professor, School of Fashion, Parsons School of Design, The New School.
