Headlining the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum’s Art Basel Season for 2016, Narciso Rodriguez: An Exercise in Minimalism will feature designs by Cuban-American fashion designer Narciso Rodriguez as well as never-before-seen archival materials, original sketches, video and works of art, selected by the designer to showcase the influence of the visual arts on his creations.

Co-curated by Alex Gonzalez, the Creative Director of ELLE Magazine and Klaudio Rodriguez, the Curator of the Frost Art Museum, the exhibition opens with a private reception on Saturday, October 8 as well as an event on Sunday, October 9 that is free and open to the public (and will remain on view through January 8, including the week of Art Basel Miami Beach).

The Frost Art Museum is also partnering with ELLE on both the exhibition and the opening night event.

“The strength of our inaugural couture exhibition is our emphasis on Narciso Rodriguez's artistry and creative process," says Dr. Jordana Pomeroy, Director of the museum. "Like a master sculptor or painter, he finds inspiration in the world around him to create an artistic continuum of ideas that are the underpinning of his life's work."

“As a first-generation immigrant who impacts our contemporary culture globally, Narciso personifies the American dream."

"Alongside our guest curator Alex Gonzalez, Creative Director at ELLE Magazine, these two powerhouses will present a cultural milestone that will inspire and resonate strongly with the international communities here in Miami and at Florida International University," adds Dr. Pomeroy.

In 1996, Rodriguez received international acclaim when he designed the bias-cut wedding dress that Carolyn Bessette wore for her marriage to John F. Kennedy, Jr. and in October 1997, the first women’s ready to wear collection under the Narciso Rodriguez label was presented in Milan for the Spring/Summer 1998 season. The same year, Loewe appointed Rodriguez Design Director of the women’s ready to wear collection, a position he held until 2001.

Narciso Rodriguez

Narciso Rodriguez sketches

The Frost Art Museum's Curator, Klaudio Rodriguez, with Narciso at his studio in New York

One of the largest free-standing art museums in Florida, the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University was founded in 1977 and is the Smithsonian Affiliate in Miami. The museum’s new lakeside building debuted in 2008, designed by Yann Weymouth (the chief of design on the I.M. Pei Grand Louvre Project). With 46,000 square feet of energy efficient exhibition, storage, and programming space, the museum was honored with LEED silver certification.