The Fashion Collection at the Phoenix Art Muesum

                                             Antonio: The Fine Art of Fashion Illustration

Broderick, Mira. “Work by Antonio Lopez.” Phoenix Art Museum

After writing about my blog post on seeing the costume collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, I felt the need to also share the amazing experience I had witnessing the fashion art collection by the artist Antonio Lopez. When I went back home for winter break in December 2020, First Friday was occurring in the city of Phoenix. The first Friday of every month, the city puts on a huge festival on Roosevelt Street, and every art museum has free admission. My friends and I decided to go to the Phoenix Art Museum to see The Fine Art of Fashion Illustration because the entrance was free that night, and who doesn’t want to go look at beautiful drawings of fashion? 

The exhibit went from September 21, 2019 to January 5, 2020, and it showcased more than 100 drawings and photographs of fashion couture done by Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos. All the drawings and photographs were to replicate the fashion from the 1960s and 1970s. On the third floor of the museum, the first room had six life-size drawings of silhouette women wearing clothes that would be seen on the streets of New York or at high class events. The picture above shows three out of the six drawings shown in the first room. In the picture below, the other three out of six photos are shown with me standing in front of the work. 

                    

Broderick, Mira. “Myself in front of the exhibit.” Phoenix Art Museum

In the next room, more pictures were displayed on the walls. I thought it was interesting how the exhibit only showcased women’s fashion and did not display men’s fashion by Antonio or Ramos. When looking at these photos, I imagine them coming from a clothing design sketchbook, like the one I had when I was younger. When I was younger, I would sketch out designs that I had in my head, although my drawings were not this good. This exhibit was amazing to see: it was as if I was able to see a fashion designer's sketchbook come to life in literal life-size drawings. Not only do I love looking at mannequins with the actual clothes on them, but I also love looking at fashion drawings and pictures such as the ones by Antonio Lopez and Juan Ramos. Even though this exhibit was only one floor, the collection was inspirational, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves fashion and anything retro from the 1960s and 1970s.

         

Broderick, Mira. “Work by Juan Ramos.” Phoenix Art Museum 

Broderick, Mira. “Work by Juan Ramos.” Phoenix Art Museum