The Bata Shoe Museum’s New Exhibit Is a Love Letter to Art and Sneakers

The Bata Shoe Museum is an ode to the beautiful history of footwear. And the Toronto landmark’s latest exhibition is making the case that fashion is, in fact, art. Titled Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists, the new curated collection (which opened to the public on October 3rd) celebrates the worlds of streetwear, contemporary art and sneaker culture.

What can visitors expect? Hundreds of rare, collector-worthy sneakers that have been reinvented, deconstructed and subverted by iconic contemporary artists including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Virgil Abloh, Keith Haring, Shantell Martin and Damien Hirst—to name just a few.

“Sneaker and artist collabs are increasingly finding their way into conventional art venues such as museums and auction houses, with some elevated to a status similar to limited edition artist prints,” says Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator at the Bata Shoe Museum. “However, the popularity of these collabs can also be seen as democratizing ‘high’ art, inviting consideration of the intersections between art, fashion, and identity in the modern world,” she adds.

To celebrate the opening, the museum hosted a splashy celebration that unfolded across three floors. Guests entered the museum through the back laneway, mimicking the now-ubiquitous “tunnel walk” popularized by the world’s most stylish pro athletes. Attendees also participated in creating spontaneous art pieces on the walls and—perhaps best of all—got to be the first to tour the exhibition.

Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists tracks the history of sneakers as canvases for art, the rise of graffiti and customization as its own art form, all while tackling the question: Can shoes be art? You can decide for yourself by booking your ticket to this can’t-miss exhibition.

Art/Wear: Sneakers x Artists is on now until March 23, 2026. Get your tickets here and enjoy a preview of the exhibit and a peek at the party below.

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Photography by Ryan Emberley

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