Shoes, Patrick Cox · 2007

Identification of the Artwork and Artist

The work before us is titled Shoes, created by the designer Patrick Cox. This piece, dating from about 1996, represents a specific moment in the designer's career. It is a study of form and material that reflects the designer's particular approach to footwear.

Patrick Cox is a Canadian-British fashion designer, born in 1963. His background is shaped by a diverse upbringing, having moved between Canada and various locations in Africa, including Nigeria, Chad, and Cameroon, during his childhood. This international perspective informs the way he approaches the construction and aesthetic of his accessories.

In this particular work, the focus remains entirely on the object itself. The design reflects a sensibility that balances the avant-garde with traditional craftsmanship, a hallmark of Cox's practice. It is a quiet, focused example of his ability to treat a functional item as a subject of visual interest.

Materials and Artistic Technique

In this work, Cox moves away from the traditional constraints of leather and fabric. He utilizes plastic, specifically polyvinyl chloride, to achieve a particular sculptural quality. This choice of medium allows for a level of precision in shape and contour that organic materials often struggle to maintain. The material dictates the form, enabling the creation of sharp, defined edges and specific silhouettes that remain consistent.

The technique relies on the inherent properties of these unusual materials to push the boundaries of footwear design. By working with polyvinyl chloride, the artist explores how synthetic substances can be manipulated to hold complex structures. The result is a piece that prioritizes the interplay between the material's rigidity and the intended aesthetic form. It is a quiet departure from conventional craftsmanship, favoring the structural possibilities offered by modern synthetics.

History and Collection of the Object

This piece is held within the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. It entered the museum's holdings through a gift from Holly Solomon in 1999. Within the institution's registry, the object is identified by the accession numbers 1999.248.29a, b.

The work is categorized under British culture, reflecting the designer's background and the specific stylistic movements of the era. It arrived at the museum during a period when the intersection of fashion and contemporary art was gaining significant institutional attention.