Australia Rejoice! A Sneaker Exhibition is Headed Your Way

An exhibition dedicated solely to sneakers is coming to Australia real soon, and boy are we jealous.

Photo: Get Regional

“The Rise of Sneaker Culture” exhibition explores the complex social history and cultural significance of sneakers.

With so many up and coming streetwear brands, and the latest launch of Pushas (a sneaker marketplace), it’s safe to say that sneaker culture in Australia is definitely on the rise. The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) is quick to steer this appreciation for kicks in the right direction, with a specially curated sneaker exhibition.

Titled “The Rise of Sneaker Culture”, the exhibition explores the social history, technical innovations, and fashion trends that help shaped sneaker culture over the years. The exhibition was founded by shoe historian Elizabth Semmelhack, and first made its debut at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto.

The sneakers featured in exhibition dates all the way back to the mid-19th century when the first rubberized sports shoe was produced. The exhibition also travels back to the 1920s, when the very first few Converse designs emerged. It also explores early Nike classics and the much-loved Air Jordans of the 1980s, before the celebrity collaborations of today.

AGWA was sure to include local sneakerheads from the community as well. Lee Ingram, a sneaker collector who owns over 800 sneakers, will have 100 shoes from his collection made into a huge chandelier-like installation.

“The Rise of Sneaker Culture” opens at The Art Gallery of Western Australia (AGWA) on May 13 and will end on September 4. For more information, visit here.