Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks

Future Now: Virtual Sneakers to Cutting-Edge Kicks is a groundbreaking exhibition that celebrates a shared human history and culture through the beauty of footwear. Featuring nearly sixty shoe designs, the exhibition explores several historically important technological advances to illuminate how cutting-edge science and innovative design thinking are transforming shoe design today. Exhibition highlights include the self-lacing Nike MAG (first conceived for the movie Back to the Future Part II), digitally designed and 3D-printed shoes, sneakers made from mushroom leather and reclaimed ocean plastics, virtual footwear, and more.

“The future is always being shaped by the present. The exhibition includes many incredible and innovative new footwear designs that are promising to transform what we will wear tomorrow. From sneakers created to address issues related to sustainability and inclusion to shoes that blur the line between the real world and the metaverse, this exhibition explores how forward-looking creators are helping us step into the future.” — Elizabeth Semmelhack, Director and Senior Curator, Bata Shoe Museum

Hosted in partnership with the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto and the American Federation of Arts, the unique presentation of the designs on view at the Indianapolis Museum of Art will demonstrate how footwear embodies cultural histories, personal memories, and aspirations for the future. See these remarkable works, explore the possibilities of what footwear can be, and share your shoe story with us.