scad oscar de la renta exhibition press kit
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HIS LEGENDARY WORLD OF STYLE
front cover: oscar de la renta silk taffeta cocktail dress fall 2006, ready-to-wear loan: mrs. mercedes t. bass, new york city
HIS LEGENDARY
WORLD OF STYLE
FEBRUARY 5 – MAY 3 SCAD MUSEUM OF ART
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
contact
ally hughes Director of University Communications
Savannah College of Art and Design
912.525.4881 (Office)
912.308.5929 (Mobile)
SAVANNAH, Georgia — The Savannah College of
Art and Design (SCAD) and the house of Oscar de la
Renta (ODLR) are pleased to announce an exhibition
curated by SCAD Trustee André Leon Talley — “Oscar
de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style,” which
highlights more than 70 original Oscar de la Renta
ensembles, including dresses worn by Beyoncé, Nicole
Kidman, Sarah Jessica Parker, Taylor Swift and Oprah
Winfrey. The exhibition also features garments from the
wardrobes of two former First Ladies, Laura Bush and
Hillary Rodham Clinton, who dressed almost exclusively
in ODLR.
In this show, Talley honors de la Renta’s deep bond
and relationship with his clients, his closest friends and
family. The exhibition is the first to celebrate the master
of elegance and his work since his passing in October
2014. “Oscar de la Renta designed clothes for women
who wanted to look and feel beautiful, at their most
elegant best,” says Talley. “Each ensemble selected
in this exhibition comes from the closets of some of
Oscar’s most iconic clients: Mrs. Mercedes T. Bass, Diana
Taylor, as well as Oscar’s wife, Annette de la Renta, and
his stepdaughter, Eliza Bolen.”
Talley says, “With Oscar de la Renta, you always felt life
was lived in the sun. He loved his family and filled life with
beauty from his gardens, his collections, paintings and
music. He loved to sing.”
De la Renta’s friendship with SCAD encompassed more
than a decade. Designer, artist and cultural icon, de la
Renta was recognized as the first recipient of the André
Leon Talley Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2001
SCAD Fashion Show. The SCAD Museum of Art permanent
collection features a number of the couturier’s designs.
Over the years, de la Renta generously gifted fabrics
from his collections to the SCAD School of Fashion for
student use, and many of the of the university’s students
also benefit from internship opportunities at ODLR. SCAD
President Paula Wallace says, “Oscar took a personal
interest in our students. They have learned from him,
and SCAD is humbled to commemorate his love for our
students with this resplendent exhibition. The 2012 SCAD
MOA exhibition, “Little Black Dress,” which traveled to
Paris, also featured Oscar’s work.”
As noted in the forthcoming book, to be published
by Rizzoli, “The designer’s simple lines elevated with a
flamenco dancer’s flourish reflected his deep connection
to his roots and his commitment to transcendence through
beautiful garments.”
“Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style” explores
the designer’s distinct capacity to capture the world
around him and embrace the essence of those who wore
his garments.
HIS LEGENDARY WORLD OF STYLE
FEBRUARY 5 – MAY 3 SCAD MUSEUM OF ART 601 TURNER BOULEVARD / SAVANNAH, GEORGIA
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OSCAR DE LA RENTA
Oscar de la Renta left his native Dominican Republic
at the age of 18 to study painting at the Academy of
San Fernando in Madrid. While living in Spain, he
became interested in the world of design and began
sketching for leading Spanish fashion houses, which soon
led to an apprenticeship with Spain’s most renowned
couturier, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Later, he left Spain
to join Antonio Castillo as a couture assistant at the
house of Lanvin in Paris.
In 1963, he came to New York to design the couture
collection for Elizabeth Arden, and in 1965, de la Renta
debuted his signature ready-to-wear label. Today the
company also produces a bridal collection, a beauty line,
a home collection, childrenswear and a complete range
of accessories, including handbags, shoes and jewelry.
In 2008, Oscar de la Renta opened its first international
stores in Athens and Madrid, and has continued its
expansion with the opening of stores in Dubai (2009),
Tortuga Bay and Riyadh (2012), and London (2013). In
August 2013, the house completed an expansion of its New
York City boutique, doubling its space on Madison Avenue.
He twice served as the the president of the CFDA
(Council of Fashion Designers of America), and was the
recipient of the council’s Womenswear Designer of the
Year, Lifetime Achievement and Founders awards.
De la Renta received two honors from King Juan Carlos
of Spain, La Gran Cruz de la Orden del Mérito Civil and
the Gold Medal of Bellas Artes. He was also awarded the
French Legion d’Honneur as Commandeur.
A tireless patron of the arts, de la Renta served on the
Boards of Trustees of Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan
Opera Guild, New Yorkers for Children, the Americas
Society, and was chairman of the Queen Sofía Spanish
Institute. He served as Chairman of Oscar de la Renta,
LLC, the luxury goods firm he founded in 1965, and also
as Chairman of Grupo Punta Cana, a hospitality and real
estate company in the Dominican Republic. De la Renta
was a dual citizen of the United States and the Dominican
Republic, where he served as Ambassador-at-Large.
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ANDRÉ LEON TALLEY
For more than two decades, André Leon Talley has been
a mentor to countless fashion students at the Savannah
College of Art and Design, where he is devoted member
of the SCAD Board of Trustees. Talley began his career
assisting Diana Vreeland at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Costume Institute. He later wrote for Interview Magazine
and Women’s Wear Daily before joining Vogue, where he
served as creative director, editor-at-large and contributing
editor for many years.
“Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style,” marks
the fifth exhibition curated by Talley at the SCAD Museum
of Art. These exhibitions include “Stephen Burrows: An
American Master of Inventive Design” (2014) and “Antonio
Lopez and the World of Fashion Art” (2013), which was
preceded by the internationally acclaimed “Little Black
Dress” (2012) and “High Style” (2011). Talley also curated
“Joaquín Sorolla and the Glory of Spanish Dress” (2011), an
exhibition of fine art and fashion at the Queen Sofia Spanish
Institute in New York City.
PAULA WALLACE
Paula Wallace is the president and founder of the
Savannah College of Art and Design, a private, nonprofit,
accredited university for creative careers. Established in
1978, SCAD is the largest, most comprehensive art and
design university in the United States.
Since her appointment as president in 2000, Wallace has
more than doubled the university’s enrollment from less
than 5,000 students to nearly 12,000 students hailing
from more than 100 countries. Wallace has created several
signature SCAD events including the Savannah Film
Festival, SCAD deFINE ART, SCADstyle, Sidewalk Arts
Festival and SCAD aTVfest. Under her leadership, SCAD
was named one of the 2014 Red Dot Design Rankings
top 10 universities in the Americas and Europe. Further,
SCAD’s undergraduate interior design program earned
DesignIntelligence’s top ranking for four consecutive years.
Wallace earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Furman
University, Master of Education and Specialist of Education
degrees from Georgia State University, and an Honorary
Doctor of Laws degree from Gonzaga University. Wallace
enjoys spending time with her husband, Glenn, and her four
children, Marisa, John Paul, Madison and Trace.
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LAURIE ANN FARRELL
Laurie Ann Farrell is executive director of exhibitions for the
Savannah College of Art and Design. In this role she directs
exhibition programming for the university’s galleries in
Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia; Lacoste, France; Hong Kong;
and at the SCAD Museum of Art.
Recent exhibitions and projects of note at SCAD include
“The Divine Comedy: Heaven, Purgatory and Hell Revisited
by Contemporary African Artists” (2013), Marina Abramović
(2011); “Wild is the Wind” (2010); Nick Cave (2009); and
Carrie Mae Weems: “Constructing History: A Requiem to
Mark the Moment” (2008).
From 1999 to 2007, Farrell was curator at the Museum for
African Art in New York City. In 2006, she organized the
American participation at the inaugural Trienal de Luanda
with support and funding provided by the U.S. Department
of State. Farrell was a recipient of the Abraaj Capital Art Prize
with artist Kader Attia in 2010.
Widely published in art journals, Farrell has lectured
throughout the Americas, Africa and Europe. She earned a
Bachelor of Arts degree in art history from the University
of California, Santa Barbara, and a Master of Arts degree in
art history and theory from the University of Arizona.
SLOANE MAYBERRY
Sloane Mayberry is a fashion marketing and management
student at the Savannah College of Art and Design. She
assisted exhibition curator and SCAD Trustee André Leon
Talley in preparing “Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary
World of Style” for its debut at the SCAD Museum of Art
and the forthcoming companion publication.
In 2014, Mayberry spent her summer as a merchandising
and buying intern for Oscar de la Renta, where she assisted
with global merchandising and product development
initiatives for the fashion house. In addition, Mayberry
interned for Oscar de la Renta’s archivist after graduating
from high school. She is from Charlotte, North Carolina.
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oscar de la renta for balmain haute couture sable collared coat c. 2001. loan: anna wintour, new york city
left oscar de la renta embroidered and sequined evening gown spring 2010, ready-to-wear worn to the 2010 sag awards. loan: nicole kidman, nashville, tennessee
right oscar de la renta embroidered and sequined evening gown spring 2010, ready-to-wear worn to the 2010 “american woman: fashioning a national identity” metropolitan museum of art costume institute gala loan: diana taylor, new york city
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oscar de la renta silk faille gown pre-fall 2008, ready-to-wear loan: mrs. mercedes t. bass, new york city#
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oscar de la renta velvet gown with pleated taffeta hem
and satin bow, 2006, ready-to-wear worn to the 2014 “charles james: beyond fashion”
metropolitan museum of art costume institute gala.
loan: diana taylor, new york city
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oscar de la renta custom embroidered lace dress worn to the 2008 “superheroes: fashion and fantasy” metropolitan museum of art costume institute gala. loan: mrs. annette de la renta, kent, connecticut
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oscar de la renta silk taffeta evening dress worn to the memorial hermann circle of life gala, 2014. loan: yvonne cormier, houston, texas
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oscar de la renta custom silk taffeta evening coat and pants spring 1998 worn on a visit to chatsworth house, united kingdom loan: mrs. annette de la renta, kent, connecticut shoes: courtesy of manolo blahnik
oscar de la renta custom silk taffeta evening coat
worn to the 2012 “schiaparelli and prada: impossible conversations” metropolitan museum
of art costume institute gala. loan: mrs. annette de la renta, kent, connecticut
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oscar de la renta for balmain haute couture silk velvet evening gown with diamante straps fall 2000 loan: anonymous
oscar de la renta for balmain haute couture embroidered silk chiffon dress
fall 2002 loan: anonymous
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oscar de la renta for balmain haute couture custom silk chiffon evening gown loan: anonymous
oscar de la renta silk taffeta cocktail dress
fall 2006, ready-to-wear loan: mrs. mercedes t. bass, new york city
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oscar de la renta embroidered silk and tulle cocktail dress
fall 2014, ready-to-wear worn by bee shaffer to the 11th annual cfda/vogue fashion fund awards, 2014.
loan: bee shaffer, new york city
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oscar de la renta jersey coat and dress 1998, worn to eliza reed bolen’s wedding. loan: mrs. annette de la renta, kent, connecticut
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oscar de la renta silk embroidered tulle and crinoline cocktail dress resort 2014, ready-to-wear worn by bee shaffer to the 7th annual museum of modern art film benefit, 2014. loan: bee shaffer, new york city
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oscar de la renta embroidered dinner dress loan: bee shaffer, new york city
oscar de la renta silk evening gown resort 2013, ready-to-wear worn by beyoncé, vogue cover, march 2013. loan: oscar de la renta archive, new york city
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oscar de la renta sequined evening gown
loan: catie marron, new york city
oscar de la renta silk embroidered evening gown, duplicate worn by chelsea clinton to carnegie hall in 2013. loan: anonymous
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oscar de la renta evening jacket and long skirt with silk blouse pre-fall 2011, ready-to-wear worn to the 2011 vanity fair oscar party. loan: alexandra kotur, bedford, new york
oscar de la renta embroidered silk dinner dress
fall 2006, ready-to-wear loan: catie marron, new york city
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oscar de la renta for balmain haute couture embroidered silk wedding gown and veil, 1998
loan: eliza reed bolen, new york city
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oscar de la renta custom wedding gown and veil, 2014 loan: elizabeth cordry shaffer, new york city
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oscar de la renta cashmere and satin day dress 1965-66 scad museum of art, gift of cornelia guest in honor of her mother c.z. guest
oscar de la renta embroidered wool evening coat
worn to “the world in vogue: people, parties, places” book signing, 2009.
loan: alexandra kotur, bedford, new york
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oscar de la renta for balmain haute couture silk velvet evening dress worn by first lady hillary rodham clinton, vogue cover, december 1998. loan: william j. clinton presidential library
oscar de la renta beaded and embroidered silk tulle wedding gown
2010 loan: huma abedin, new york city
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oscar de la renta embroidered cashmere coat and dress
worn by first lady laura bush to the 2005 presidential inauguration.
loan: george w. bush presidential library and museum, dallas, texas
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oscar de la renta custom silk gown worn by kirsten dunst in vogue, september 2006. loan: oscar de la renta archive, new york city
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oscar de la renta silk faille jacket and skirt with appliquéd bows worn to the 2012 “schiaparelli and prada: impossible conversations” metropolitan museum of art costume institute gala. loan: lauren santo domingo, new york city
oscar de la renta silk faille evening gown
worn to the 2014 “charles james: beyond fashion” metropolitan museum of art costume
institute gala. loan: lauren santo domingo, new york city
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oscar de la renta silk coat and dress pre-fall 2006, ready-to-wear loan: mrs. mercedes t. bass, new york city
oscar de la renta silk chiffon with beaded lace overlay
jacket and skirt worn by first lady laura bush
to the 2002 poland state dinner at the white house.
loan: george w. bush presidential library and museum, dallas, texas
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oscar de la renta embroidered cotton wedding gown, 2010 loan: miranda brooks, new york city
oscar de la renta custom beaded silk evening gown, 2010
worn to the 2010 “american woman: fashioning a national identity” metropolitan museum of art
costume institute gala. loan: oprah winfrey, santa barbara, california
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oscar de la renta silk taffeta skirt
worn to the marean romualdez and thomas pompidou wedding in 1999.
loan: alexandra kotur, bedford, new york
chanel vintage wool bouclé jacket
scad museum of art gift of cornelia guest in honor of her mother, c.z. guest
oscar de la renta custom duchesse satin cocktail dress, 2005 worn for the lovely perfume campaign. loan: sarah jessica parker, new york city
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oscar de la renta for balmain haute couture silk flamenco skirt
fall/winter 2001 loan: anna wintour, new york city
oscar de la renta custom gold lamé evening gown, 2013 loan: anna wintour, new york city
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SCAD MUSEUM OF ART
The SCAD Museum of Art is a premier contemporary art
museum established to enrich the education of SCAD
students and expand learning opportunities beyond the
classroom. Introducing new exhibitions every academic
quarter, the museum offers work by a range of highly
acclaimed artists from around the world, inspiring and
challenging students across disciplines to push the
boundaries of their creative practice. Mounting more than 20
exhibitions each year, the museum has presented renowned
artists such as Yinka Shonibare, Sigalit Landau, Kehinde
Wiley, Jane Alexander and Alfredo Jaar. Fashion legend
André Leon Talley regularly curates couture exhibitions
such as “Oscar de la Renta: His Legendary World of Style”
alongside ever-changing site-specific installations by artists
such as Fred Wilson, Kendall Buster, Odili Donald Odita,
Ingrid Calame and Jennifer Rubell. The museum’s permanent
collection includes the Walter O. Evans Collection of African
American Art, the Modern and Contemporary Art Collection,
the 19th- and 20th-Century Photography Collection, the
Costume Collection, and the Earle W. Newton Collection of
British and American Art.
A radiant example of the university’s legacy of innovative
building adaptation and reuse that spans nearly four
decades, the SCAD Museum of Art is the largest project
in the university’s preservation portfolio. Since opening its
doors in October 2011, the SCAD Museum of Art has been
celebrated for its inspired architecture and design, most
recently receiving the Honor Award for Architecture, the
American Institute of Architects’ most prestigious honor,
as well as praise from the Congress for New Urbanism, the
International Interior Design Association and the Historic
Savannah Foundation, among many others.
scadmoa.org
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ABOUT THE SCAD MUSEUM OF ART
• Opened in 2011 to advance SCAD’s legacy of
historic preservation
• Largest rehabilitation project in SCAD’s portfolio to date
• Winner of the 2014 AIA Honor Award for Architecture,
the American Institute of Architect’s highest honor
• The 82,000-square-foot facility is the only surviving
antebellum railroad complex in country; it once served
as headquarters for Central of Georgia Railway.
• The facility was originally constructed in 1853 and is
designated a National Historic Landmark.
• Design architect: Christian Sottile (M.Arch., 1997), AIA,
Sottile & Sottile, Savannah, Ga., Dean of the SCAD
School of Building Arts
• There are more than 4,500 works in the museum’s
permanent collection, including the Walter O. Evans
Collection of African American Art, the Earle W. Newton
Collection of British and American Art, the 19th- and
20th-century Photography Collection, and the SCAD
Costume Collection.
• Permanent collection highlights include William Hogarth
engraving series “A Rake’s Progress” (1735), Carrie Mae
Weem’s large-scale photographic series “Constructing
History” (2008) and Nick Cave’s video “Drive-By” (2011).
scad: the university for creative careers
SCAD enrolls nearly 12,000 undergraduate and graduate
students from more than 100 countries. SCAD’s innovative
curriculum is enhanced by advanced, professional-level
technology, equipment and learning resources, as well as
opportunities for internships, professional certifications
and collaborative projects with corporate partners. In 2014,
the prestigious Red Dot Design Rankings placed SCAD in
the top 10 universities in the Americas and Europe. Career
preparation is woven into every fiber of the university,
resulting in a superior alumni placement rate. In a survey of
Spring 2013 SCAD graduates, 93 percent of respondents
reported being employed, pursuing further education, or
both within 10 months of graduation.
For more information, visit scad.edu
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