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Exhibition Inspired by Fashion and Finance Opens at the Weisman Museum of Art

Pop artist Andy Warhol redefined the boundaries between fine art and consumer culture in the 1960s with his iconic depictions of celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe, and dollar signs.

His work starts off the Inspired by Fashion and Finance exhibition at the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, which explores the great impact that fashion, finance, and socioeconomic themes have had on contemporary art. Inspired by Fashion and Finance: Selections from the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation opens on Saturday, Aug. 28, on the Malibu campus.

Artists on display have been inspired to look deep into the heart of modern society, from the recent international financial crisis to the media's fixation on luxury and glamour. Italian new realist Michelangelo Pistoletto is represented by a vintage image on a mirrored surface of a hippie hitchhiker. Jeans and long hair—a radical statement of counterculture values—reveal the powerful relation between politics and adornment.

Korean-American artist Joon-Sung Bae depicts herself wearing the dress of 17th-century European royalty juxtaposed against contemporary women shopping for bargains in Los Angeles' Fashion District.

While many artists examine the political dimensions of fashion, money, and power, others take a more poetic perspective. Lesley Dill is known for her ball gowns made of rusted metal and emblazoned with the poetry of Emily Dickinson. The highly feminine imagery stands in stark contrast to the introspective life of the great American poet famous for her brilliance and reclusiveness—and underscores the elaborate ways women shield themselves in a male-dominated culture. Les Christensen's towering wings made of 5,300 pairs of shoes, titled Why Should I Walk If I Have Wings to Fly?, symbolizes spiritual transcendence.

Other artists on view include world-renowned figures Keith Haring, David Hockney, Larry Rivers, and James Rosenquist, as well as many younger talents.

Works are on view at the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, in the Gregg G. Juarez Gallery, West Gallery, and Ron Wilson-Designer Gallery. The museum is open every Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is closed on Mondays and November 25 to 28. There is no admission charge.

A public opening reception will be held on Friday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. Inspired by Fashion and Finance closes will close on December 5.

For more information, contact the Museum at (310) 506-4851 or visit the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Arts website.