The Mint Museum Goes Brilliant This October with Judith Leiber
Photo: The Mint Museum
Those with an appreciation for fashion and fine art will want to make room in their schedules this October when Brilliant by Design: The Handbags of Judith Leiber opens at The Mint Museum’s Randolph location.
The exhibition is built around a generous gift to the museum from a private collector of more than 130 handbags and accessories, all works by renowned designer Judith Leiber. According to Bridget Kerr, curator and Fashion Fellow at The Mint, the exhibition will span three galleries, telling the incredible story of Leiber’s life and her illustrious career in the fashion industry.
While Judith Leiber handbags have been carried by some of today’s biggest celebrities, including Beyoncé, Blake Lively, Lady Gaga, and the Kardashians, the story behind the designer begins much more humbly. Born in 1921 in Budapest, Hungary, to a Jewish family, Leiber faced restrictions that limited her opportunities for higher education. Instead, she pursued a trade education, immersing herself in the world of handbag design and eventually becoming the first woman to join Hungary’s Handbag Guild.
Photo: The Mint Museum
Her family survived World War II, and in 1947, Leiber made her way to New York City with her husband, Gerson Leiber, an American soldier she had married the year before while he was stationed in Europe. Once in New York, she spent 16 years working in the American handbag industry and refining her craft before launching her namesake brand in 1963.
Her distinctive rhinestone-embellished creations would go on to cement her legacy in the fashion world and earn her prestigious honors, including the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
As for what visitors can expect to see at Brilliant by Design, Bridget says several pieces on display showcase Leiber’s creative ingenuity and whimsical approach to design. Among them are a mother-of-pearl shell evening bag, a cello purse, and frog minaudières. The exhibition will also feature examples of Leiber’s leatherwork, offering another look at the breadth of her craftsmanship beyond the crystal-covered creations for which she became famous.
Photo: The Mint Museum
Brilliant by Design: The Handbags of Judith Leiber will be on view from October 24th through July 3rd.
Those interested in learning more about the designer and her legacy can also attend a Curator Conversation on October 23rd. Bridget will be joined by Annie Carlano, Senior Curator of Craft, Design, and Fashion at The Mint; Dr. Hilary Davidson, fashion historian, author, and associate professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology; and designer Olympia Le-Tan, known for her signature hand-embroidered book clutches. Together, they will discuss the exhibition and its newly published catalogue exploring Leiber’s life, work, and enduring influence.
The celebration will continue on October 25th with The Mint Museum’s Party in the Park, marking both the museum’s 90th anniversary and the opening of Brilliant by Design. The afternoon will feature art, music, and hands-on activities inspired by Leiber’s work.
