Jeff Staple x RTFKT_Meta-Pigeon K-Minus
Thursday, August 28, 6 p.m.
Figge Art Museum, 225 West Second Street, Davenport IA
With the colorful and arresting exhibit on display through August 31, a closing celebration and artist talk on the footwear-themed exhibit Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks will be held at Davenport's Figge Art Museum on August 28, the evening featuring a captivating talk by award-winning virtual shoe designer Antonio Arocho Hernández, whose works are featured in the exhibit. Known internationally for creating immersive digital experiences, Hernández blends the beauty of nature with cutting-edge technology to form stunning, innovative designs – proving that technology can indeed be beautiful.
A remarkable collection of wearable art that's both fashionable and functional, Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks showcases nearly 60 futuristic footwear designs redefining the possibilities of shoes. Blending fashion, gaming, architecture, and sustainability, the exhibition in the Figge's fourth-floor gallery features designers such as Rem D. Koolhaas, Zaha Hadid, Mr. Bailey, and Salehe Bembury alongside collaborations with Rick Owens, Stella McCartney, and PlayStation. Highlights include 3D-printed shoes, sneakers made from mushroom leather, and footwear designed for the metaverse. Future Now offers a glimpse into the innovative technologies and artistic practices shaping the future of footwear.
“Shoes are part of our daily lives, but they’re also markers of memory, identity, and imagination,” said Melissa Mohr, Executive Director and CEO of the Figge Art Museum. “This exhibition taps into something universal – something we all share – and uses it to invite bigger questions about how we express ourselves and where we’re headed as a culture.”
The exhibition includes loans from the Bata Shoe Museum’s expansive collection of nearly 15,000 artifacts as well as designs from private collectors, working design studios, and conceptual artists. Through form, material, and message, the works on view invite reflection on the future of fashion, identity, and the planet.
“Innovative design is all around us, and this exhibition makes that point clear. Everyone wears shoes, so it's something universally relatable – but this show invites us to explore the creative thinking behind shoe design and highlights examples at the forefront of innovation,” said Joshua Johnson, Co-Senior Curator at the Figge. “It challenges visitors to think critically about material culture – about where things come from, how they’re made, and what they represent in the digital and physical worlds alike.”
The Figge Art Museum is proud to partner with Kicks for Kids during the exhibition Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks to collect new or unused children’s shoes for local students in need. Museum guests are asked to bring new or unused children’s shoes to the Figge and place them in the collection receptacle located near the Welcome Desk, with every donation designed to help a child step forward with confidence.
Kicks for Kids is a local non-profit founded by Brent Hamerlinck, dedicated to making sure every child has access to proper footwear. Working with area schools and fellow non-profit Closet2Closet, Kicks for Kids identifies children who need new shoes and delivers them directly to schools. Last year, the organization provided 150 pairs of shoes to local youth, and this year they have already donated 250 pairs and counting. Their goal is to reach even more children across the Quad Cities.
The exhibition itself, meanwhile, is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and the Bata Shoe Museum, and curated by the latter's director and senior curator Elizabeth Semmelhack.
The closing reception and artist talk for Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks will take place on August 28, with the Figge Bar open and food available beginning at 5 p.m. (cards only) and the program beginning at 6 p.m. Museum admission that night is free, and more information is available by calling (563)326-7804 and visiting FiggeArtMuseum.org.
