Art & Museums
Mannequins used to display art and clothing traces back to the 1830s. Patterns, materials, and silhouettes of fashionable garments have changed dramatically through time and across cultures. The human form, has stayed mostly the same. We love to see how our basic mannequins can be transformed through art and fashion. Art is meant to be displayed on the human form, and we are fortunate to provide high-quality mannequins to be a blank canvas. Below is a gallery and explanation of the exhibits these mannequins were featured in. If you are an artist who uses one of our mannequins, send us pictures to be added to the gallery with a history and explanation of your work.
2024 Lexie and Lindsay Kite are Changing the Body Image Resilience Game - USU Magazine
Lexie and Lindsay Kite, identical twins, co-founders of the nonprofit Beauty Redefined, and co-authors of the book more than a body recently sat down for an interview with Timothy R. Olsen from Utah State University Magazine. During their time at USU they were inspired to critically examine the media's portrayal of women's bodies. " We pioneered the idea of focusing more on body neutrality, on the instrumentality of your body, as opposed to the beauty of your body and trying to fit ourselves into these roles of objectification where we gain power from being beautiful or feeling beautiful." -Lindsay Kate
The cover photo for the article shows the two sisters standing in a group of our mannequins with all different body types portrayed. We love their mission and these powerful photos.
Read the Article Here - Kite Sisters USU Article
Check out the Kite Sister's Website Here - MoreThanABody.org
2022 Bibhu Mohapatra Exhibition at Utah State University
Award winning fashion designer, Bibhu Mohapatra, reflects on his journey from his beginnings in India to becoming a celebrated designer in New York. After arriving in the U.S. in 1996 to pursue graduate studies at Utah State University. Despite studying economics, Mohapatra eventually pursued his true calling in fashion, blending his cultural heritage with modern design.
Dozens of Bibhu's iconic dresses, including one worn by former First Lady Michelle Obama, were on display at the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of ARt in March 2022. It was an honor to see Bibhu's brilliant works displayed on our mannequins.
2023 Karl Lagerfeld Retrospective at WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND in NYC
Exhibiting some of Lagerfeld’s most widely known designs, our mannequins posed next to the likes of Kate Moss, Helena Christensen, Michaela Coel, Kendall Jenner, and many other familiar faces during a “6-month “global mission" to find the best existing specimens of Lagerfeld’s work” (Weiss). We were honored to have such beautifully designed pieces displayed on our Black Female Egghead Mannequins.
“A troupe of mannequins presided over party guests during last night’s celebration at What Goes Around Comes Around’s Wooster Street atelier in Soho. Sporting layers of pearls, gold chains, leather, bouclé, and, of course, many, many logos, they were unmistakably plucked from Karl Lagerfeld’s Chanel oeuvre” (Zachary Weiss - Vogue Online, April 29th, 2023).
See more photos and read the full article here - Vogue Article
Photography by - Madison McGaw/BFA.com
2023 Oumou Sy Display at the Arvada Center in Colorado
The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities held an exhibit this summer to showcase the works of world-renowned designer Oumou Sy. Born and raised in Senegal, Oumou started sewing at the age of 13. Since her humble beginnings, she has created costume designs for major films in Africa and Europe and now has stores in Paris and Geneva. It was an honor to have her incredible work displayed on some of our mannequins.
Read more about Oumou Sy and the Arvada Center
2023 Art Meets Fashion Immersive Runway Event: Emergent
In April, five of our White Female Egghead Mannequins were outfitted by Floral Artist and business owner Shelly Huynh - owner of Orchid Dynasty in Salt Lake City, UT. To create and display the beautiful floral dresses and headpieces, Shelly needed high quality, sleek mannequins. After being constructed - Shelly's beautiful creations were modeled down the runway. Her showcase of fabric and incredible florals was a highlight of the event.
2023 49th Annual National Symposium - Costume Society of America
Crossroads of Dress & Adornment
Creativity, Culture & Collaboration - was the theme of CSA's annual symposium. Female dress forms and both sizes of our white female mannequins were adorned with costumes and cultural apparel made by designers from across the country.
2019 UVU Graduation BFA Graphic Design Show
Kristi Johnson, @kristi.design_
This absolutely stunning design was made by Kristi Johnson as part of the graduation showcase for Utah Valley University. The costume is a traditional carnival costume from Trinidad and Tobago. The artist constructed the entire costume by hand, using materials sourced from Trinidad, Hong Kong, and America. These three cultures are which that the artist associates with. This all came together in a beautiful explosion of feathers, jewels, and color.
2019 Nelson-Aatkins Museum
@nelsonaatkins
Both male and female mannequins got to adventure to Kansas City, Missouri to model for an exhibit. This display was part of the Día de los Muertos celebration held by the museum and featured beautiful, colorful traditional clothing from Mexico.