Mannequins To Go Display at The Museum of Arts and Design

Most people don't associate mannequins with art, but that's not stopping the Museum of Arts and Design from setting up its own mannequin exhibition.

Starting March 31st, the general public will be able to see dozens of mannequins created by one of the industry's most prolific figures at the museum's "Ralph Pucci: The Art of the Mannequin" exhibition. It will only remain up for a short time, however, so don't miss out on this opportunity. Whether you're a fashion designer, retail manager, or just someone who appreciates culture, you'll want to check out The Art of the Mannequin.

Ralph Pucci joined his mother and father's mannequin business in the mid-1970s. At the time, the family business remained focused on repairing damaged mannequins. With Ralph now working alongside his parents, though, the business began to shift from repairs to actual mannequin creation and design. According to the New York Times, Ralph worked with several other influential mannequin designers, including Ruben Toledo, Andrée Putman and Maira Kalma, to revolutionize this industry.

The Pucci business paved the way for other companies to follow, utilizing new shapes, colors, materials and styles in their mannequin designs. This was a pivotal time for the mannequin business, as it spawned a countless number of new designs, many of which are still be used to this day.

The Art of the Mannequin exhibition plays homage to Ralph Pucci, showcasing some of his finest and most unique mannequins. However, there's more than just mannequins being displayed here. In addition to the dozens upon dozens of brilliant mannequin designs, the exhibition will also feature a replica of the Pucci studio, in which master sculptor Michael Evert will demonstrate how to create a mannequin.

"If you look at the thread, it captures the moments of all the important trends in design, fashion, art. And though many of the mannequins in the show are not currently in production, they may return to department stores yet. “I’m hoping some of them have a second life,” Pucci says. “And I think they will; fashion is a fast business. When you’re looking at some of these pieces, they look as fresh as tomorrow.”