Toronto's Bata Museum Launches a Sneaker Exhibition Featuring Keith Haring, KAWS, Takashi Murakami, and More
Toronto's latest exhibit invites us to explore the collaboration between artists and sneaker brands.
We covered the opening of MCNY's exhibit yesterday but couldn't ignore other events in the city and beyond, particularly in Toronto, which has recently been surprisingly lit.
Ruohan Wang Photo credit: Bata Museum/Kailee Mandel
Placing Toronto on the Map... Again.
The Great North is not one to top the Coolest Ciy lists, at least not since Drake's meteoric trajectory (sidenote: not sure if Torontonians share the sentiment). Still, Toronto is steadily carving out its little pocket in popular culture. We received word that the Bata Museum launched an exhibition called “Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists.”
Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists
The exhibition debuted on October 3rd (pardon our tardiness) and delves into the collaborations between artists and sneaker brands. These collabs are more than just an outlet for artists to cash in; they’re art-filled canvases collected and preserved by sneakerheads and enthusiasts familiar with the artist and their works. Alternatively, the buyer could be none of the above; perhaps the wearer is only concerned with rocking a pretty pair of kicks. Either way, wearing the sneakers usually results in getting a few daps on the street.
Art World Versus Rest of World
Modern consumerism probably means these collabs aren't all that deep to the masses. However, Bata provides a different perspective. “Sneaker and artist collabs are increasingly finding their way into conventional art venues such as museums and auction houses, with some elevated to a status similar to limited edition artist prints.” Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator at the Bata Shoe Museum, said in a release. “However, the popularity of these collabs can also be seen as democratizing “high” art, inviting consideration of the intersections between art, fashion, and identity in the modern world.”
Murakami x Vans Skull Blue. Photo credit: Bata Museum/Kailee Mandel
Sneaker Apps to the Rescue!
From our perspective, the answer is straightforward. For example, Takashi Murakami's artwork is neither cheap nor accessible to a younger audience who, more than likely, prefers streaming on Twitch over heading to the Gagosian (one of the major galleries that represent Murakami). Chances are, the "yout" aren’t fussed over Artsy newsletters either. However, put Murakami's signature design on a pair of Nike Air Force 1's and, ideally, tease the drop on the Nike SNKRS or GOAT platforms; that’ll send push notifications to the user’s phone, and the drop is a hit.
Murakami and Other Artists Collabs On Display
Big name KAWS (known for his early tagging days) will also be on display; viewers can also see brand collabs with Alfie, Cey Adams, Ruohan Wang (who did the damn thing with those Nike Blazer Mid 77 Flyleather drops in 2020), MSCHF, and, of course, Keith Haring.
“Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists” at the Bata Museum runs until March 23, 2026. If you're heading to the show, don’t forget to purchase your tickets.
Ciao Edie!