Welcome to the Kent State University Museum, home of extraordinary collections of historic dress, fashion, textiles, and decorative arts. Here you will find works by many of the world’s great artists and designers, known and unknown, from across time and continents.
The Museum was founded in 1982 alongside the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising, and offers invaluable first-hand experiences for all students, faculty and staff at Kent State University. The Museum also serves the culturally rich communities of Northeastern Ohio as well as global audiences through the loan of objects to museums, scholarly research, and traveling exhibitions from the distinguished collection.
TEXTURES Symposium at the KSU Museum
Convened in conjunction with the exhibition "TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair," this symposium convenes thinkers and creators from a variety of backgrounds to discuss, engage, and celebrate ideas pertaining to Black history, hair, beauty, and culture. Keynote speakers are Dr. Afiya Mbilishaka, clinical psychologist and hairstylist, PsychoHairapy LLC, and Dr. Crystal Porter, hair scientist and president of Mane Insights, Inc.
Watch the Livestream! Learn more about the Symposium Learn more about TEXTURESMuseum Highlights
Forever Chanel: Coco + Karl EXTENDED to May 29!
We live in a world where fashion, celebrity and personality are inextricably intertwined and elevated to heights of global phenomena. A singular name — Cher, Madonna, Naomi or even Bernie — denotes an immediate and comprehensive image of personae, values and impact. The name Chanel has endured for over 100 years: What does that tell us about the House of Chanel and what does that reveal about us?
Pathfinders to open June 24!
Featuring
- Jules Acree
- Deanna First
- Keama Garrett
- Miyako Nakamura
- Anne Skoch
Made possible with the generous support of Dr. Linda L. McDonald and the Ohio Arts Council.
TEXTURES: the history and art of Black hair is open through Aug. 7. 2022!
TEXTURES synthesizes research in history, fashion, art, and visual culture to reassess the “hair story” of peoples of African descent. Long a fraught topic for African Americans and others in the diaspora, Black hair is here addressed by artists, barbers, and activists in both its historical perceptions and its ramifications for self and society today. Combs, products, and implements from the collection of hair pioneer Willie Morrow are paired here with masterworks from artists including James Van Der Zee, Sonya Clark, Lorna Simpson, Mary Sibande and Zanele Muholi.
Dancing with the Distance is open through Oct. 2, 2022
Award winning artist and beloved professor, Janice Lessman-Moss is renowned for her intricate weavings. The Kent State University Museum exhibition, Dancing with the Distance showcases more than thirty of her works. The weavings, which span a period of twenty years, display the evolution of her craft and were created on a variety of different looms from hand looms to digital jacquards and power looms. Her mastery of technology extends not just to the use of high-powered looms for weaving but also to the design of the patterns.
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