Isaac Mizrahi: his fashion, film and art in a cool exhibition

While best known for his clothing designs, Mizrahi’s creativity has expanded over a nearly three decade career to embrace acting, directing, set and costume design, writing, and cabaret performance. “An Unruly History” is the first museum exhibition to focus on the American designer & artist work. The exhibition is showing Isaac Mizrahi work from 1988 to the present day.

The exhibition Isaac Mizrahi: An Unruly History is open until 7th August 2016 at Jewish Museum, New York City (www.thejewishmuseum.org)

And, walking along the exhibition, we can discover his work and his innovative moves, his attempts to unite the opposites. For example, his runway shows casted with unconventionally models of all ethnicities dressed in Star of David belts, Western-wear infused handmade lace, Adidas sneakers in place of high heels, handbags worn as hats, or humble cotton undershirts paired with floor-length taffeta skirts.

Isaac Mizrahi: “An Unruly History” is organised thematically, exploring key trends in Mizrahi’s work. The core of the exhibition features iconic designs from the Isaac Mizrahi New York clothing label (1987 – 1998), the “semi-couture” collections (2003 – 2011), and the line for Target (2002 – 2008). The show is comprised of 42 “looks” that include clothing, hats, jewellry, shoes, accessories, and costumes for the theater, the opera, and the Mark Morris Dance Group. Also featured are the designer’s original drawings, performance stills, and behind-the-scenes photographs. A bespoke multi-screen video installation showcases a variety of content drawn from film and television cameos and runway shows, as well as from the award-winning documentary Unzipped; the television program The Isaac Mizrahi Show; scenes from the cabaret LES MIZrahi; appearances on Project Runway; and the current QVC network show IsaacMizrahiLive!.

Isaac Mizrahi

Photography: courtesy of The Jewish Museum

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