WAM!
Celebrating ART that moves with us — from studio jewelry to textiles, fashion, and design — the Wearable Art Museum honors creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural legacy.
Mission
The Wearable Art Museum (WAM!) is dedicated to exhibiting, exploring, and celebrating the worlds of wearable art, studio jewelry, textiles, costume, fiber, and related mixed media.
WAM! will use innovative technology, master craftsmanship, and unbridled creativity to communicate, educate, and inspire. Our exhibitions will spotlight international artists, designers, architects, and inventors, supported by collectors, philanthropists, and engaged communities.
This immersive experience is designed to act as a catalyst for conversation across local, national, and global communities by highlighting creatives whose work reflects generational diversity and personal vision.
A Museum Without Walls
The Wearable Art Museum extends beyond geography, curating exhibitions, collaborations, and educational programs across cultures, communities, and continents.
It is not defined by walls, it is crafted by vision.
Until a future home is established, WAM! is active through traveling exhibitions, curated partnerships, digital storytelling, and educational initiatives.
This flexible model allows us to reach diverse audiences, connect global makers, and continue shaping the legacy of wearable art.
From our Director
Museums and cultural institutions around the world play a vital role in preserving the powerful contributions artists make to humanity.
The Wearable Art Museum (WAM!) shares this mission with a dedicated focus on celebrating the genre of wearable art across studio jewelry, textiles, fashion, costume, and design. These works are not only visual statements; they are indelible messages that move us both figuratively and literally worn on the body as personal expressions of culture, identity, and vision.
For the past quarter century, my gallery Sculpture To Wear, founded in New York City in 1973, has played a key role in introducing and cultivating the world of wearable art in the United States.
Now, it is time to serve a larger audience.
WAM! is being founded as a nonprofit institution with dynamic art and education at its core, and legacy as its foundation.
I invite you to join me on this next stage of my journey.
— Lisa M. Berman
WAM! Events
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WAM! Goes To Paris in 2026
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WAM! Launch at NYCJW 2025
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Infinite Creativity: Teri Brudnak and AI
Designed by Roman Matous, the Sonatine set is a lyrical expression of classical elegance. This necklace and earring ensemble is defined by a rhythmic arrangement of large, pear-shaped glass crystals (often referred to as "teardrops" ), which form the centerpiece of each ornate cluster.
The delicate Lt. Rose shade of these focal stones is framed by smaller, precision-set crystals. To emphasize the artisanal nature of the collection, the set is crafted in raw, non-plated brass, allowing the intricate soldering and the authentic texture of the metal to shine through.
Handcrafted using raw, non-plated brass (tombac); meticulously set with premium glass crystals in Lt. Rose, featuring prominent pear-shaped stones. Earrings are equipped with a comfortable clip-on fastening.
With a length of 17.72 inches (approx. 45 cm) and a 6 cm extension chain.
Individual color adjustments available upon request to match your specific event or outfit.
Created in Jablonec nad Nisou, Czech Republic.
This piece is presently in Paris for the Max Alexander debut Fashion Week presentation at the Palais Garnier and will be available for domestic (U.S.) shipping beginning mid-March.
For acquisition inquiries, please contact info@wearableartmuseum.org.
Shop the
Curated Paris FW Collection
€6,400.00
WINNER OF THE NEW YORK DESIGN AWARD 2023
WINNER OF THE MUSE DESIGN AWARD 2023
Online checkout is not available for this piece.
Please submit a PRIVATE INQUIRY via button for acquisition details.
Price listed is in Euros.
This bangle was inspired by the idea of disruption, which is linked to the concept of rebirth and renewal. The gemstone, a blue topaz, metaphorically represents the human being who is trying to emerge from the old and escape the limiting and suffocating beliefs in which we are still trapped, consciously or unconsciously. During the process of disruption, the old world is broken, and yet something beautiful comes into existence.
Right here and now, you can see it happening. “Model IV: Disruption” is a still image that captures the climax of this transformation. The stone is trapped in a “cloth” of gold, trying to escape and show the world its own beauty. Through this effort, it tears the surface, creating openings that are nonetheless graceful and elegant.
MATERIALS USED
Gold Plated Sterling Silver 925/°°°
Lab Brown Gemstones (similar to the ones in the photos)
0.70 ct Citrine
CREATION DATE
2022
CAN BE MADE BY REQUEST
Yes
VARIANTS
Customizable
ARTWORK LOCATION
Italy
Max Alexander Debut Fashion Show – Palais Garnier, Paris
The WAM! Wearable Art Museum brings fashion into the museum spotlight with a debut runway presentation at the iconic Palais Garnier on March 3, 2026.
Led by Founder and Executive Director Lisa M. Berman, WAM’s museum-driven curation reframes the runway as a cultural stage, positioning fashion not as trend or commodity, but as wearable art. This marks a rare moment in which a museum director curates a fully accessorized runway collection at one of the world’s most revered cultural landmarks, bringing curatorial context, sustainability, and storytelling to an international audience.
Featured artists: Belle Brooke, Claudia Endler, Eleonora Federici, Lorena Jarpa, Mariana Gorga, Patricia Madeja, Robert Lee Morris, Roman Matous, Teri Brudnak, and LMB Personal Collection.
In celebration of NY Textile Month
Featured Artist
Niki Khojandi is an emerging designer whose journey began as a promising fashion student at Parsons School of Design in New York. When the pandemic and political upheaval forced her return home to Tehran, she turned challenge into creativity, developing intricate embroidery and textile works using recycled and donated fabrics.
Entirely self-taught, Niki has been creating since childhood—from stop-motion films with handmade clay characters to her current explorations in wearable art. Working from her bedroom, she continues to transform adversity into powerful, imaginative expressions of resilience and hope.
Hand-embroidered tapestry inspired by Persian mythology. The piece depicts the eternal balance between Azdaha, the dragon symbolizing chaos, and the Simorgh, the mythical bird representing wisdom and renewal. Created with sequin embroidery, beadwork, and French knot techniques, this artwork took over 350 hours to complete. A vibrant celebration of storytelling, symbolism, and intricate craftsmanship.
Size: L 7 × H 5 ft
WAM! Featured Artists
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![A woman dressed in a colorful, patterned dress with black gloves standing next to a smiling boy wearing a black T-shirt, plaid shorts, and yellow Crocs, running and having fun in an indoor space with glass walls.]()
Tie Dress (Permanent Collection) by Max Alexander (Advisory Council).
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![A decorative wreath made of elongated, striped orange and purple prickly pear fruits with metallic accents and small pearl and star-shaped ornaments.]()
2 Roses Jewelry - John Lemieux Rose (Board Member).
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![A woman with water splashing around her, wearing stylized white accessories and pants, posing against a dark background.]()
Sculpture to Wear Luminary Award Recepient - Ellina Pollitt.
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![A nude woman with a shaved head poses against a black background, wearing an artistic dress made of white spherical beads covering her torso and upper body.]()
Sculpture to Wear Best Retail Design Recepient - Anneli Tammik.
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![A chessboard with white and black squares, two white chess pawns, a black pawn, and a gold ring resembling a spaceship on a thumb of a hand wearing a blue glove. The background is blue.]()
WAM! Award Best “Evoke” Design Recepient - Julia Wang.
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The Dragon & The Bird by WAM! Featured Textile Artist Niki Kohjandi.
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![Crystal Amber Necklace by Greg Orloff]()
Crystal Amber Necklace by Greg Orloff
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Brush Strokes necklace and earrings by Jesse Walker
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Bubble II Brooch by Jiashi Ying
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Manhattan Necklace by Catalina D'Anglade
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Big Spoolie Neckpiece by Teri Brudnak
Shaping the Legacy of Wearable Art
Anchored in New York City & Los Angeles yet unbound by geography, the Wearable Art Museum is conceived as a dynamic, globally accessible institution. Through touring exhibitions, strategic partnerships, and digital initiatives, it will extend across cultures and continents—bringing the language of wearable art to audiences everywhere while remaining rooted in its home city.
✦ Innovative Exhibitions
WAM! celebrates wearable art in all its forms—studio jewelry, textiles, costume, fiber, and mixed media—through curated exhibitions that connect creativity, craftsmanship, and culture.
✦ Global Vision
Our exhibitions highlight international artists, designers, architects, and inventors, supported by collectors, philanthropists, and engaged communities.
✦ Community Engagement
We build meaningful connections through outreach programs, collaborations, and opportunities that bring wearable art to local, national, and global audiences.
✦ Educational Programs
Workshops, lectures, and demonstrations invite guests to “play with art” while learning from artists and professionals across disciplines.
✦ Cross-Disciplinary Themes
Rotating curatorial themes integrate painting, sculpture, photography, and media into a rich cultural curriculum.
✦ Artist Marketplace
Our physical and online store features work by exhibiting artists and makers, extending the museum experience beyond its walls.