Phoenix Art Museum to debut Anna Sui fashion exhibition in April

Rock 'n' roll-inspired looks by the famous fashion designer are coming to the Valley direct from London.

December 26, 2024

Image: A Spring/Summer 2012 Isetan Mitsukoshi promotion featuring Frida Gustavsson.

A Spring/Summer 2012 Isetan Mitsukoshi promotion featuring Frida Gustavsson. Courtesy of Sofia Sanchez and Mauro Mongiello

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The rock 'n' roll-inspired clothing by one of the greatest American fashion designers will be heading to the Valley this spring.

On April 13, Phoenix Art Museum will open "The World of Anna Sui," a blockbuster fashion exhibition. The show, which comes to the Valley from the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, comprises more than 100 ensembles, including looks from Sui’s personal archive, fashions from her newest collection and various objects and ensembles from the
museum’s renowned fashion collection selected in collaboration with the designer.

“Anna Sui defined a fashion generation, and Phoenix Art Museum is pleased to present 'The World of Anna Sui,' exploring the impact of this extraordinary designer,” Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Sybil Harrington Director and CEO of Phoenix Art Museum, said in the exhibition announcement. “In the 1990s, Anna Sui was one of the driving forces behind the decade’s now-iconic style, many of which inspire today’s Gen Z trends. Ever since, she has continued to shape the fashion landscape, building an elaborate, imaginative universe that draws inspiration from grunge music, goth aesthetics, romanticism and more."

click to enlarge

Fashion designer Anna Sui.

Courtesy of Anna Sui

Sui, 60, launched her brand in the late 1970s. Her output now includes books, fragrances, beauty and home decor in addition to clothing and accessories. Her creative vision has earned her countless accolades, including earning the Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America in 2009.

“Anna Sui is a self-taught historian of culture, art, and fashion, and a true master at threading narratives and aesthetics from seemingly conflicting genres into her designs,” Helen Jean, the museum’s Jacquie Dorrance Curator of Fashion, said in the announcement. “Visitors to the exhibition will discover how her work samples elements of popular music, books, movies, and art movements, while referencing wide-ranging fashion trends from sportswear to army surplus jackets to Japanese hankies and qipao dresses. The World of Anna Sui is a pure visual delight, with incredible pop-culture history woven throughout, and is yet another powerful opportunity to see how fashion designers absorb, reference and engage with the defining styles and social movements of our collective past and present.”

"The World of Anna Sui" will run at Phoenix Art Museum from April 13 to Sept. 28.

Jennifer Goldberg is the Senior Editor of Culture at Phoenix New Times. She joined the New Times staff in February 2016. In her role, Jennifer writes and publishes profiles of both local and regional musicians, previews upcoming performances and provides guides on the best of Phoenix’s entertainment scene. She also oversees the Best of Phoenix. Jennifer previously worked for Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. During her career, Jennifer has received awards from the Arizona Press Club, the Arizona Newspaper Association and the American Jewish Press Association. She holds a bachelor’s of arts in English from Arizona State University.

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