March - August 2024
Christian Siriano: People Are People
People Are People honors famed American designer Christian Siriano’s (b. 1985; Annapolis, Maryland) electrifying contributions to fashion. Drawn from his extensive archive, the exhibition features bold creations from Siriano’s decade-plus career that celebrate self-expression for every body at every age. Since launching his fashion house in New York in 2008, Siriano has become beloved for statement-making looks, combining beautiful craftsmanship with a unique point of view that has endeared him to the fashion industry, celebrities, and the public alike. From glamorous gowns to gender-defying showstoppers, Siriano’s creations have been the focus of unforgettable Fashion Weeks and red-carpet moments, and worn by the world’s biggest stars, top models, pop icons, legendary divas, LGBTQIA+ heroes, first ladies, and more. Garments worn by Michelle Obama, Janelle Monae, Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Lizzo, Billy Porter, and Ariana Grande will be featured.
Exhibition Programs
Artist
Curators
Artist + Curator
Dr. Patricia Daigle
Patricia Lee Daigle is the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. She previously served as Director of The Martha and Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art at the University of Memphis and Curatorial Assistant in Contemporary Art at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Daigle received her Ph.D. in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art
Dr. Patricia Daigle
Patricia Lee Daigle is the Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. She previously served as Director of The Martha and Robert Fogelman Galleries of Contemporary Art at the University of Memphis and Curatorial Assistant in Contemporary Art at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Daigle received her Ph.D. in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of California, Santa Barbara.
Program Recordings
Resources
The 901 Black American Portraits Soundtrack
Listen to a soundtrack of Memphis music that exemplifies Black Love, Power, and Joy. The 901 Black American Portraits Soundtrack celebrates the vibrant legacy and future of Black musicians in the city of Memphis. This playlist was curated by Jared “Jay B” Boyd, a Memphis-based multimedia artist, journalist, DJ, and on-air personality.
MCA Exhibition Questionnaire
Help us generate the fullest picture possible of the MCA experience.
Submitting a questionnaire, which includes a request for an image of an artwork, is essential to be considered for part of the exhibition.
Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?
The American art theorist Linda Nochlin (1931-2017) posed this question as the title of a pioneering article in 1971. This essay was considered one of the first major works of Feminist art history, it has become a set text for those who study art internationally, and it is influential in many other fields.