BATA SHOE MUSEUM,new exhibition opening

NEW EXHIBITION OPENING

Opening on October 22, Brilliant: The Art of Beaded Footwear Around the World. Beads are a popular form of ornamentation found on footwear around the world. Spanning 400 years of history, this exhibition brings together more than 85 meticulously crafted objects to illuminate both the delicate nature of beadwork and the exceptional effort, care, and skill it demands. Across diverse traditions, beads have been used in both decorative and symbolic ways, expressing status, identity, and spirituality. Brilliant traces the global history of beadwork through exceptional examples of beaded footwear from Africa, Europe, South Asia, Turtle Island (North America), and Western Asia.

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EXHIBITION KICK OF

A full afternoon of family fun, with guided tours, hands-on beading crafts, and conversations with artists who have dedicated their practice to this centuries-old art form.

Sun. Oct. 25, 12 - 5 pm

Free Admission

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INDIGENOUS BEADING

Create a beautiful beaded poppy while learning about the significance of poppies as symbols of remembrance and the important contributions and sacrifices of Indigenous veterans.
Sat. Nov. 7, 11 am - 2 pm

$65

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CURATOR’S TALK
Join Director & Senior Curator Elizabeth Semmelhack as she explores beadwork traditions from around the world, and their role as markers of wealth, prestige, and cultural meaning.

Mon. Nov. 30, 7 - 8 pm

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Also On View



UNEARTHING VINDOLANDA

Discover over 100 footwear-related artifacts from Vindolanda, a Roman auxiliary fort and settlement located just south of Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland, England. On view for the first time ever in North America
On view until Sep. 2027

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ANDRÉ PERUGIA

A pioneering Italian-French shoe designer, André Perugia (1893-1977) is known for his architecturally innovative and technically masterful footwear designs. From his first boutique in Nice in the early 1920s, he revolutionized luxury footwear, creating shoes for fashion houses like Dior and Schiaparelli, as well as for celebrity clients including Josephine Baker, Mistinguette, and Princess Lillian of Belgium. His work is preserved in major museum collections worldwide.

On view until Apr. 4, 2027
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327 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON M5S 1 W7

(416) 979-7799

info@batashoemuseum.ca

Direction
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Sunday: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Closed on December 25, 26 and January 1.


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Bata Shoe Museum 327 Bloor Street West Toronto, On M5S 1W7 Canada