The Future of Sneaker Culture: A Conversation with Herbert Beauclere
Saturday, March 15 | 1-2 pm
Collection of Mr. Bailey. Courtesy American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum.
Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum, gift of RTFKT. Courtesy American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum.
Collection of Brad Factor. Courtesy American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum.
Courtesy of the Department of Nike Archives, American Federation of Arts, and Bata Shoe Museum.
Collection of the Bata Shoe Museum.
Image © 2023 Bata Shoe Museum. Courtesy American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum.
© Bata Shoe Museum. Courtesy American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum.
Image © 2023 Bata Shoe Museum. Courtesy American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum.
Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks
February 9–May 4, 2025
This groundbreaking exhibition explores the intersection between design innovation and technological advancements in footwear. Future Now features over 70 futuristic designs from the Bata Shoe Museumʼs holdings as well as loans from other prominent institutions, collectors, designers, and inventors. Presenting digitally designed and 3D-printed shoes, sneakers made from mushroom leather and reclaimed ocean plastics, and footwear created for the metaverse, the exhibition explores how cutting-edge technologies, unexpected materials, and new ideas are transforming footwear today. The footwear included in the exhibition is designed to address industrial-age problems and capitalize on postindustrial possibilities. Featured designers and brands include: Salehe Bembury, rtfkt, Mr. Bailey, Zaha Hadid, JEMS by Pensole, Safa Şahin, EKTO VR, Saysh, Benoit Méléard, SCRY, and many more.
This traveling exhibition makes its regional premiere with Sarasota Art Museum. In addition to SAM, Future Now‘s nation-wide tour includes five other museums. Future Now debuted at Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon in March of 2024. The exhibition then traveled to Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields in Indianapolis, Indiana in September 2024. After its Sarasota presentation, the show will continue to Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa in May 2025 before traveling to Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina in September 2025 and then to Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, Michigan in February 2026.
The exhibition is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated by Elizabeth Semmelhack, director and senior curator, Bata Shoe Museum.
This exhibition at Sarasota Art Museum is made possible, in part, with generous support from:
Platinum Sponsors
Judy and Fred Fiala
Shari and John Hicks
Cynthia McCague
Gold Sponsors
Charlotte and John Suhler
Silver Sponsors
Elaine and Bill Crouse
Mary Ann and John Meyer
Bronze Sponsors
Terry Brackett
Warren R. and Marie E. Colbert
Hidayet Kutat
JoAnne Olian, Curator Emerita Museum of the City of New York
Lois Stulberg
Wendy Surkis
Platinum Sponsors
Judy and Fred Fiala
Shari and John Hicks
Judy and Fred Fiala
Shari and John Hicks
Gallery Didactics for Picking up the Pieces:
Special thanks to the many generous donors who made gifts in memory of Peppi Elona.
Programs
Designing the Future: A Conversation with Dan Latham
Saturday, March 29 | 1-2 pm
Member Preview Day – Future Now
Saturday, February 8, 2025
Opening Day Talk | Elizabeth Semmelhack: Future Now
Saturday, February 8 | 1-2 pm