It all started when JoAnne Northup, the Chief Curator of the Nerman, was talking with instructors of the JCCC fashion school. She asked them who she believed to be the most renowned Kansas City fashion designer, when apparently without a beat, they said Jeremy Scott. Curious, Northup decided to look up some of his work. Impressed, she found that much of the work reminded her of another artist she was familiar with, Katherine Bernhardt. That’s when a bulb went off in her head.

“They share an aesthetic, they share references to pop culture, they are the same age, they’re from the same state, and they have a lot in common,” Northup said. “But not until this exhibition was underway, did they ever meet in person.”

From “A Match Made in Heaven: Katherine Bernhardt x Jeremy Scott,” on display now at the Nerman Museum. Photos by Vaughn Wheat.

“A Match Made in Heaven: Katherine Bernhardt x Jeremy Scott” is the latest exhibit at the Nerman Museum on campus that runs from Feb. 7th through Aug. 3rd and is free to enter for any guest. And just like the name suggests, it is a near perfect combination of both artists’ work. 

Katherine Bernhardt is a contemporary artist known for her colorful depictions of everyday goods and brands such as Windex and Lip Chap, as well as pop culture icons like Bart Simpson, Mrs. Piggy, and the Pink Panther. In the exhibit, one can even find two floor to ceiling portraits of a stick of butter, a great representation of the humor and bright joy that can be found in her work. 

“The people’s designer” Jeremy Scott, is a fashion designer known for pops of color and his own bold high fashion worn by the likes of Taylor Swift and Rihanna. In fact, outfits worn by pop stars Katy Perry and Lady Gaga can be seen in this new gallery. A robe that looks like a pizza, and a dress shaped like a burger, Heresy wrapper gowns are among some of the wonderfully odd outfits that can be found here in the Nerman. 

“We hung up Katherine’s paintings,” Northup said. “And then Jeremy would come in at 1:00pm and stay until 1:00am just staring at her work and remembering the things he had designed and seeing things, like there’s a design motif that is [a] specific shade of purple and he’s like, I have this dress it’s designed the same way. It’s very art historical in a way that he’s departing off of Katherine’s work and making it like a musical piece together.”

This unorthodox exhibit is a feast of colors for the eyes and a chance to see world class art close to home. As one of our tour guides said through the show. “If it doesn’t make it to Paris it ends up in Overland Park.” For more information on both the exhibit, Nerman hours, as well as other upcoming events visit their site at nermanmuseum.org.