The Aspen Art Musem's new Fashion Lecture Series brings designer Cynthia Rowley to town.
This summer the Aspen Art Museum celebrates another medium beyond contemporary art with its new Fashion Lecture Series, kicking off with designer Cynthia Rowley. “I love fashion, and I’ve wanted to do [a lecture series] forever,” says AAM CEO and Director Heidi Zuckerman of the decision to start the new fashion-focused programming. “Now seemed the right moment. Art, architecture and fashion all reflect vital aspects of culture that influence our perceptions. Providing access for audiences to participate in those discussions is at the heart of the AAM mission.”
Rowley is no stranger to the art world: Her husband owns a gallery in New York called Half Gallery, and she almost pursued an artistic path herself. “I was a painting major at the Art Institute of Chicago before switching over to fashion, which, to me, is not all that different,” says Rowley. “I think about the same things—inspiration, concept, line, form, color and composition. It’s always interesting to me to explore the fusion of art and fashion.”
Rowley, who had a pop-up shop in Aspen from February through September of 2018, is known for infusing elements of sport into her line (she is arguably responsible for taking wetsuits from purely function to serious fashion). “I live an active lifestyle, so function is really important to me from a design perspective,” she says. “At the end of the day, my goal is to inspire women to live an adventurous lifestyle and to always be open to trying new things.” Clearly, Rowley will be speaking to the right crowd in Aspen. Aug. 8, 5:30pm, free, 675 E. Hyman Ave.
Photography by: nigel barker
