COLUMBUS, OH – (AAPNW) – Making the Wexner Center for the Arts, his first major museum retrospective of his work and the only Midwest stop, the exhibition, “All of Everything: Todd Oldham Fashion” will feature more than 70 ensembles of fashions from the 1990s, opening Saturday, February 3, 2018 and remaining on view through April 15.
Brooch Dress, Fall 1996, Dress with hand-molded Swarovski crystal jewelry, Center back length: 28 3/4 inches, Gift of the Todd Oldham Studio 2014.90.26
Viewers will be surrounded by installations of his ensembles, displays of custom accessories, and hours of runway footage, viewers will be impressed by sequins and Swarovski crystals, fine hand embroidery and a dress made of pipe cleaners, including a recent, one-of-a-kind gown made in collaboration with students from the Rhode Island School of Design.
From 1989-1999, Oldham swiftly made his way through the New York fashion world, with opulent garments inspired by everything from Persian carpets to thrift-store finds. This celebration of using “everything” is central to his aesthetic. Rhode Island School of Design curator Kate Irvin observes, “resonate with thought, feeling, and a profound commitment to fully exploring potential and possibilities.” Oldham himself designed the exhibition and wrote labels for each ensemble, providing firsthand insight into his creations.
Oldham’s incorporation of vibrant shades and dense patterns steps away from the minimalist tendencies of 1990s fashion, instead his garments, giving them a sculptural quality and visual weight. He has also been among the first to work with African American models Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell as well as rising stars Cindy Crawford, Kate Moss and Christy Turlington.
Born in 1961 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Todd Oldham launched his first clothing line in 1989 and by 1991 was awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s Perry Ellis Award for New Fashion Talent. Closing his fashion house in 1999, Oldham has since influenced nearly every aspect of design, working with retailers such as Target and Old Navy, designing furniture for La-Z-Boy, and taking on hotel design with The Hotel of South Beach. He’s written and edited more than 22 books, producing monographs on artists including John Waters, Wayne White, and Charley Harper.
