Paul Tazewell's Oscar-winning costumes for "Wicked" have made their way to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, where they are on display in a new exhibition called "Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell." This is the first time that Tazewell's work has been showcased at the museum.
The exhibition features thousands of sketches and pieces from Tazewell's collection, including artifacts from his early life and costumes from movies and musicals he has worked on. Among the displayed items are dresses worn by Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in "Wicked."
Tazewell, who is based in New York City, drew inspiration from 18th-century coats and corsets when designing characters for "Hamilton," blending them with contemporary streetwear trends to make the characters feel more accessible and relatable. The exhibition also includes costumes from "The Wiz Live!," "West Side Story," and "Harriet."
As curator Voula Saridakis explained, "Crafting Character" is part of the museum's mission to inspire inventive genius, which aligns with Tazewell's approach to his craft. In a video introduction, Tazewell stated that his work isn't just about fashion or art but also about identity and storytelling with history embedded in every seam.
The exhibition also explores Tazewell's early life and creative works, including puppets, marionettes, and self-portraits. The museum has brought some of these items from Tazewell's mother's home in North Carolina to display at the exhibition.
Tazewell's approach is to look for inspiration every day and find it in all around him. According to Saridakis, "What moves you emotionally is the key to unlocking your own creative potential." This message is reflected in his work on costumes like those from "The Sleeping Beauty," which were tailored using engineering technology to solve design challenges.
The exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry runs through September 7.
The exhibition features thousands of sketches and pieces from Tazewell's collection, including artifacts from his early life and costumes from movies and musicals he has worked on. Among the displayed items are dresses worn by Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba in "Wicked."
Tazewell, who is based in New York City, drew inspiration from 18th-century coats and corsets when designing characters for "Hamilton," blending them with contemporary streetwear trends to make the characters feel more accessible and relatable. The exhibition also includes costumes from "The Wiz Live!," "West Side Story," and "Harriet."
As curator Voula Saridakis explained, "Crafting Character" is part of the museum's mission to inspire inventive genius, which aligns with Tazewell's approach to his craft. In a video introduction, Tazewell stated that his work isn't just about fashion or art but also about identity and storytelling with history embedded in every seam.
The exhibition also explores Tazewell's early life and creative works, including puppets, marionettes, and self-portraits. The museum has brought some of these items from Tazewell's mother's home in North Carolina to display at the exhibition.
Tazewell's approach is to look for inspiration every day and find it in all around him. According to Saridakis, "What moves you emotionally is the key to unlocking your own creative potential." This message is reflected in his work on costumes like those from "The Sleeping Beauty," which were tailored using engineering technology to solve design challenges.
The exhibition at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry runs through September 7.
! I mean, who wouldn't wanna see those gorgeous dresses worn by Ariana Grande & Cynthia Erivo? 
The way he blends history with modern streetwear is pure genius 
, it's like you can feel the story behind every stitch 
Mind blown! 
IT'S AMAZING HOW HE BLENDED 18TH-CENTURY STYLES WITH STREETWEAR TO MAKE CHARACTERS FEEL MORE ACCESSIBLE! I MEAN, WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO SEE ARIANA GRANDE IN GLINDA'S COSTUME FROM "WICKED" IN REAL LIFE?! 
. The fact that they're exploring Tazewell's approach to creativity and how it's connected to storytelling with history in every seam is really interesting. Did you know that Tazewell designs his characters to feel accessible and relatable? I love that the exhibition is part of the museum's mission to inspire inventive genius 
They're literally bringing the characters to life, like Ariana Grande as Glinda and Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba – now that's what I call a triple threat! 
Anyway, it's awesome to see his early life and creative works on display – who knew puppets and marionettes could be so cool? 
On the other hand, I get why they chose this museum - their focus on inventive genius aligns well with Tazewell's approach to his craft. 
And the fact that they're showcasing some of his personal items from early life, like puppets and self-portraits, is a nice touch. 
Still, I wish there was more info about how the museum plans to make this exhibition accessible to a wider audience...like, what kind of interactive elements or workshops will be available? 
. And can we talk about how he blends 18th-century vibes with modern streetwear trends? Genius, right? 
The way he sees the world as his canvas and looks for inspiration in every day life is really inspiring. I love that the museum is showcasing not just the costumes but also Tazewell's early life and creative works. It's like a peek into his mind and how he comes up with these masterpieces.
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. The way Tazewell describes his work as being about identity and storytelling with history embedded in every seam... it's so true. I love how he finds inspiration everywhere, even in everyday life. It's like he's reminding us that creativity is all around us, waiting to be tapped into.
Finally, a museum that gets it right! I mean, who needs art galleries when you can have actual costumes from musicals? 
It's not like we've all seen enough selfies with that same dress already... 
. Just saw that there's a new exhibit showcasing Paul Tazewell's Oscar-winning costumes from "Wicked" but like, who cares when you know the world is still facing so many problems? Climate change is getting worse by the day and no one seems to be doing anything about it 
. And don't even get me started on the mental health crisis – it's like everyone's just walking around with a smile on their face, pretending everything is okay when really it's all falling apart 
. Meanwhile, I'm over here feeling like I'm stuck in some kind of never-ending nightmare 
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? I need to see it in person ASAP! The way Tazewell combines fashion, art, and storytelling is so inspiring 
gotta check it out if u're in chicago this sept 
. i wish i could see it live, but sept 7 tho 
u gotta check out the vids on youtube if u cant make it in person 
Tazewell's approach to design is all about finding creativity in everyday life, which is something we can all learn from 
. The fact that he incorporates engineering tech into his designs is just mind-blowing 
. Definitely worth checking out the exhibition if you're a fan of fashion, art, or just awesome storytelling! 
I'm so stoked they're showcasing Paul Tazewell's costumes at the museum! I mean, can you even imagine walking into a sciency place like that and being surrounded by all this gorgeous, over-the-top fashion? 
Go see it, everyone!