The Brooklyn Museum is set to debut an exhibit titled “The Rise of Sneaker Culture,” which will explore its origins in the mid-19th century and evolution into today’s craze. The show will run from July 10 to October 4 of this year.
Along with an exploration of the history and cultural significance of sneakers, the exhibit will include approximately 150 pairs for diehard fans to ogle, including archival pieces from Adidas, Converse, Nike, Puma and Reebok.
More fashion-focused sneakers will include styles from Prada and other major labels, as well as collaboration shoes by Damien Hirst and Shantell Marti.
Sneakers from private collectors like Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and sneaker guru Bobbito Garcia will also be on display. In tandem with the shoes, there will be film footage, interactive media, photographs and design drawings for guests to take in.
The exhibit will be located on the fifth floor of the museum’s Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro wing and is organized by the American Federation of Arts and Toronto’s Bata Shoe Museum (its senior curator, Elizabeth Semmelhack, organized the show).
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In honor of the news, we’ve highlighted eight classic sneakers that have stood the test of time. From Stan Smiths to Air Force Ones, click through the gallery for more (For five classic sneakers that have gotten new updates, click here).
In 2014, the Brooklyn Museum launched Killer Heels, tracing the historical transformation of another wardrobe staple. At the time, Curator Lisa Small told FN: “Heels are such evocative objects in the world of fashion and popular culture, so we thought it would be a great focal point. It’s also really interesting because every season there is this discourse about the ‘craziest shoe I’ve ever seen,’ and some of the craziest shoes actually come from Renaissance Italy or the Chinese in the 17th century.”
