ICONIC: An Illustrated Tribute to the Revolution of Fashion

The Center for Storytelling, Global Languages and Cultures, and other campus co-sponsors for a week-long residency with illustrator, storyteller, and fashion historian Nicole Updegraff. Highlights of the residency include: Drop-in gallery viewing hours for Updegraff’s project, ICONIC, on October 26 and 27 from 2-6 PM; a gallery talk with the artist on October 27 at 6 PM; and a masterclass on Creativity, Design, and Storytelling on October 28. All events will take place in the School of Humanities. Attendees are welcome to attend one event or all events, which are free and open to the public.

ABOUT ICONIC:

Updegraff’s project, ICONIC: An Illustrated Tribute to the Revolution of Fashion, is a first-of-its-kind narrative and visual exhibition that sits at the intersection of fine art, fashion history, and Black cultural legacy. Designed to educate, inspire, and engage multigenerational audiences, ICONIC is both an illustrated tribute to fashion and a living archive of Black cultural excellence, bringing art, fashion, and history to life in a multisensory experience.
Conceived as a hybrid between art gallery, interactive museum experience, and cultural anthology, ICONIC explores the dynamic evolution of fashion through the lens of Black creativity. Honoring 100 Black designers, stylists, and fashion and cultural icons, this interactive experience is dedicated to ensuring their legacies and contributions are experienced, studied, preserved, and given the institutional recognition their innovation, influence, and impact deserve. For a preview of ICONIC, visit https://canva.link/k41j1baccbqc6a1

EVENTS:

Updegraff will bring ICONIC to campus for two days on October 26 and 27, culminating in a gallery talk with the artist on October 27. On October 28, join Updegraff for a masterclass on Creativity, Design, and Storytelling. The masterclass is aimed especially at undergraduate students from all programs and disciplines who share a love of creativity and design. Free and open to the public; all are welcome. For complete event details, visit https://www.humanities.uci.edu/storytellingcenter/events

ABOUT NICOLE UPDEGRAFF:

Nicole Updegraff is an international fashion illustrator, writer, and creative director based in Los Angeles, whose distinctive, elevated illustration style sits at the intersection of art, beauty, fashion, and culture. Since the release of her children’s book, I LOVE My Cotton Candy Hair! in 2009, Nicole has worked across the U.S., Europe, Japan, and West Africa. Her work spans bespoke personalized commissions, book illustration, live event activations, creative campaigns, and elevated illustration projects for private collectors and global brands.

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