Bata Shoe Museum’s Marco Sassone-His Boots and Other Works Opens Today

The Bata Shoe Museum‘s newest exhibition entitled, Marco Sassone: His Boots and Other Works, is a collection of the artist’s oil paintings which explore the connection of shoes and one’s identity. Sassone himself was inspired by his visit to a previous exhibition at the Bata Shoe Museum, Standing Tall: The Curious History of Men in Heels, and he fondly remembered his 1967 purchase of a pair of high heeled patchwork snakeskin boots in London from Granny Takes a Trip, a boutique known for dressing high-profile rock stars like The Rolling Stones. He has featured these beloved boots in two paintings in this collection, and the original boots are on display as well.

The original boots Sassone purchased from London

The other pieces in the exhibition include Blue Track, Self Portrait and Thong Sandals. His images are vibrant with a softness to them. There is the theme of departure and arrival in the paintings.

Sassone, originally from Florence, is known for his expressionist style. He lived in the United States before moving to Toronto in 2004. Sassone has been internationally recognized for many of his outstanding achievements in his career. He received the Gold Medal award from the Italian Academy of Arts, Literature, and Science in 1978. He was knighted by the President of Italy to the Order to the Merit of the Italian Republic in 1982. He also was honored with Marco Sassone Day in San Francisco on March 30, 1994.

Marco Sassone (left)

(photos by Tanya)

The Marco Sassone: His Boots and Other Works exhibition runs at the Bata Shoe Museum from today (June 9, 2016) to September 5, 2016.