Fashion and Fine Art Intertwine at FIT Museum Exhibition

The Museum at FIT's "Art X Fashion" show explores the longstanding relationship between the two creative disciplines.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology's new exhibition "Art X Fashion" offers a sweeping survey of the relationship between art and fashion from the 18th century to today. The show presents 140 garments, accessories, textiles, photographs, and artworks that trace the sustained exchange between the two disciplines through thematic case studies. Curator Dr. Elizabeth Way aims to challenge the perception of fashion as merely derivative of fine art, highlighting how the two fields have long inspired and influenced each other.

Why it matters

The exhibition reframes the debate around whether fashion can be considered art, proposing that if fashion demonstrates innovative form, exquisite craftsmanship, and cultural impact, it may reasonably be considered art. By exploring this intersection, the show sheds light on the ways fashion and fine art have consistently shaped and reflected one another.

The details

The exhibition opens with an "art history 101 timeline" illustrating how both fashion and fine art emerged from the same cultural currents. Thematic vignettes then trace parallels across art movements like Rococo, Art Deco, Surrealism, Pop, and Postmodernism. A section on "garmenting" explores a contemporary art practice that incorporates clothing and accessories into fine-art works. The show's main gallery houses a section examining the perennial question "Is fashion art?", inviting visitors to reflect on the criteria that may qualify fashion as art.

  • The exhibition is on view from February 18 through April 19, 2026.

The players

The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (MFIT)

The museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, which houses a collection of over 50,000 garments and accessories dating from the 18th century to the present.

Dr. Elizabeth Way

The curator of costume and accessories at MFIT who conceived the "Art X Fashion" exhibition.

Valerie Steele

The director and chief curator of MFIT, who has argued that fashion does not need to be considered art to be important.

Dr. Christopher Richards

An art and fashion historian whose work is referenced in the exhibition, proposing criteria for when fashion may be reasonably considered art.

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What they’re saying

“This exhibition is about how the museum's collection responds to that topic.”

— Dr. Elizabeth Way, Curator of costume and accessories, MFIT (Harper's Bazaar)

“Fine art and nature are probably the two things that most consistently inspire designers.”

— Dr. Elizabeth Way, Curator of costume and accessories, MFIT (Harper's Bazaar)

“This question of whether fashion is art obscures the important role that both fine art and fashion play in representing our culture and identities.”

— Dr. Elizabeth Way, Curator of costume and accessories, MFIT (Harper's Bazaar)

What’s next

The exhibition will be on view at the Museum at FIT through April 19, 2026, offering visitors the opportunity to explore the deep connections between fashion and fine art.

The takeaway

The "Art X Fashion" exhibition challenges the perception of fashion as merely derivative of fine art, highlighting the ways the two disciplines have long inspired and influenced each other. By exploring this intersection, the show sheds light on fashion's ability to innovate, demonstrate technical mastery, and shape cultural and social identities - qualities that may reasonably qualify it as art in its own right.