The Oklahoma City Museum of Art continues to bring world-class art experiences to the metro and this summer is no different with a
Hollywood costume exhibition by Edith Head coming to OKC! For kids and teens interested in fashion design, sewing, filmmaking and/or art, this exhibition featuring Edith Head in OKC is a must-see. On our frequent trips to OKCMOA, my kids have seen the promotions for Edith Head and have asked me frequently, “When is the Hollywood costume exhibit going to be open?!”, so we were extra excited to receive a special sneak preview.
Edith Head: Hollywood’s Costume Designer officially opens June 22 and features an incredible collection by the award-winning costume designer. The 70 costumes on display were worn from the 1930s to the 1960s by some of Hollywood’s biggest stars of the 20th century, including Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Ginger Rogers, Shirley MacLaine, Veronica Lake, Barbara Stanwyck and Kim Novak.
With more than 400 films to her credit, Head ruled the costume design departments at Paramount and 
Universal Studios from the early 1920s to the early 1980s. She helped define the style of classic Hollywood with her striking designs, which earned her 35 Oscar nominations and eight Oscar wins — more than any other woman to date.
The exhibition takes up the entirety of the museum’s third floor, where costumes, sketches and two screening areas showcase Head’s life and work.
Why our family recommends your family visit soon!
- It’s not just an exhibition: it’s an experience! For three kids who enjoy sewing (thanks, Grammie!) and art, this exhibition
was mesmerizing and exceeded their long-awaited expectations. The exhibition itself takes you on a journey, from the early days of Head’s career, her personal sense of fashion (she enjoyed bright, bold colors in her personal life, but at the studio stuck to neutrals to ensure the actresses got to shine), black and white film, then into technicolor, wartime costume design, the realism of the 60s and finally historical films.One of my favorite things about how OKCMOA curates exhibits is that the entire space, not just the pieces on display, capture the essence of what’s being conveyed and makes you feel you’re part of the story. For example, as the exhibit opens in the black and white film era, the narrower space uses neutral colors on the walls and neutral clothing … so that when you turn the corner into the large, airy, very bright technicolor space, it’s hard not to audibly gasp “Wow!” 
Experiencing Head’s creative process sparks imaginations. Many of the costumes on display also include a photo of the actress wearing the ensemble, as well as a note about Head’s creative process. Quotes and explanations about the science Head used to create her designs made the exhibit especially relevant for my science-loving kids, who enjoyed discussing how Head dreamed up clothing that would achieve filmmaking goals, like making an actress look taller or boost her confidence. Head was also a master at creating authentic historical designs. We enjoyed the peek into Head’s creative process as we reviewed her sketches, full of details, notes and fabric swatches. These were just as fun to examine as the costumes themselves!- The exhibition inspires new family fun activities at home this summer. Watching brief movie clips of Head at work in her studio and a film in which her designs were featured gave us the idea to make a list of Head’s films we could watch as a family this summer to see her fashions in action (plus, the kids are very intrigued with the idea of black and white movies!)
- Plus, as always, our experience inspired meaningful conversation. A few notes throughout the exhibition pointed out that Head had “borrowed” sketches from other art students early in her career, and later took credit for the creative of another designer who worked under her. This inspired some great conversation about how much different the world was for career women at the time, as Head was the first female chief costume designer at any major film studio. We wondered aloud what pitfalls she faced as a female, how her gender affected perceptions of her and whether her sometimes brusque and controlling personality would have been called out if she were a man.
was mesmerizing and exceeded their long-awaited expectations. The exhibition itself takes you on a journey, from the early days of Head’s career, her personal sense of fashion (she enjoyed bright, bold colors in her personal life, but at the studio stuck to neutrals to ensure the actresses got to shine), black and white film, then into technicolor, wartime costume design, the realism of the 60s and finally historical films.One of my favorite things about how OKCMOA curates exhibits is that the entire space, not just the pieces on display, capture the essence of what’s being conveyed and makes you feel you’re part of the story. For example, as the exhibit opens in the black and white film era, the narrower space uses neutral colors on the walls and neutral clothing … so that when you turn the corner into the large, airy, very bright technicolor space, it’s hard not to audibly gasp “Wow!”
Experiencing Head’s creative process sparks imaginations. Many of the costumes on display also include a photo of the actress wearing the ensemble, as well as a note about Head’s creative process. Quotes and explanations about the science Head used to create her designs made the exhibit especially relevant for my science-loving kids, who enjoyed discussing how Head dreamed up clothing that would achieve filmmaking goals, like making an actress look taller or boost her confidence. Head was also a master at creating authentic historical designs. We enjoyed the peek into Head’s creative process as we reviewed her sketches, full of details, notes and fabric swatches. These were just as fun to examine as the costumes themselves!
If you have time after enjoying the Edith Head exhibition, there’s plenty more to see and do at OKCMOA for all ages. Check out four more of our favorite experiences:
- Don’t miss the final days of the current Georgia O’Keeffe exhibition, which closes July 7. Magnificent Beauty: Georgia O’Keeffe and the Art of the Flower examines explorations of flowers in paintings and photography by O’Keeffe and photographer Imogen Cunningham.
- While my family always loves seeing the new exhibits at OKCMOA, our favorite remains the incredible art by renowned glassblower Dale Chihuly in Chihuly Then and Now: The Collection at Twenty, which was reopened last summer. Check out our favorite parts of this exhibition here.
- The museum opened a brand new Family Space this spring. Located on the first floor, the Family Space includes a variety of
stations for creative art-making activities, plus a nook for reading and even toys for the tiniest visitors. - And Picasso is coming soon to OKC! Picasso and the Progressive Proof: Linocut Prints from a Private Collection opens Aug. 24 and will be at OKCMOA through Jan. 5, 2025. Visitors will get to see the printmaking output of legendary Spanish artist Pablo Picasso from the last years of his life.
stations for creative art-making activities, plus a nook for reading and even toys for the tiniest visitors.Kids 17 and under always get in FREE to OKCMOA. Plus, on the second Sunday of each month, all adults get free admission as well, thanks to Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
