January 28, 2025
February 7-August 3, 2025
Opening Reception: February 6, 2025 | 6-9 PM,
with Artists Talk: 7-8 PM in JCCC’s Yardley Hall
Gala: May 10, 2025 | 6-10 PM
Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College
12345 College Blvd. Overland Park, KS
nermanmuseum.org
The Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art at Johnson County Community College is proud to present the first exhibition to explore the shared references that unite contemporary artist Katherine Bernhardt’s paintings and fashion designer Jeremy Scott’s iconic fashion looks.
JoAnne Northrup, Executive Director of the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, noticed recurring themes in the two artists' work and introduced them to each other in November of 2023.
“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. But not until this exhibition was underway, did they ever meet in person,” says Northrup.
Bernhardt (b. 1975, St. Louis, Missouri) and Scott (b. 1975, Kansas City, Missouri) are both known for their creative work that engages with themes of consumer and popular culture and irreverent humor. This exhibition presents looks by Scott and paintings by Bernhardt, creating a dynamic pop culture extravaganza. They are two elite artists working in disparate mediums who transform the mundane into the spectacular.
Bernhardt is known for her colorful, energetic canvases that juxtapose symbols of everyday life, such as Windex, the golden arches of McDonalds, and Lucky Charms cereal, with imagery sourced from pop culture, such as Simpsons characters, E.T., and the Pink Panther. The symbols are repeated as motifs, resulting in patterned paintings that elevate kitsch into high art.
Scott’s fashion designs, created for the Italian design house Moschino, adidas, and for his namesake brand, Jeremy Scott, adapt pop culture iconography into haute couture. His designs have been worn by celebrities such as Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Miley Cyrus, Madonna, Britney Spears, Katy Perry, and Rihanna, all of whom understand and appreciate his cheeky humor and of-the-moment references. Scott is also the subject of a 2015 documentary by Vlad Yudin, titled “Jeremy Scott: The People’s Designer,” which features cameos from many of his pop star friends.
At the heart of Bernhardt’s and Scott’s work are questions such as: who determines what is high or low art? What happens when ubiquitous consumer products are re-branded into art and fashion? Are they examples of sophisticated satire, or a more dramatic upending of bourgeois standards of decorum and beauty?
A Match Made in Heaven will feature over 35 paintings by Bernhardt and more than 100 looks by Scott, providing an opportunity for JCCC students in the Fashion Design & Merchandising and Fine Arts programs as well as residents of Johnson County and the greater Kansas City region to study the contributions of these two masters from the Midwest.
Join for a free artists talk with Katherine Bernhardt and Jeremy Scott, featured in our upcoming exhibition, A Match Made in Heaven. The Museum opens to the public at 5 p.m. on February 6. The reception will be held at the Nerman Museum atrium from 6-9 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. The artists talk will occur online and in person from 7 p.m to 8 p.m. in JCCC’s Yardley Hall, in the Midwest Trust Center building. Free and open to the public. No RSVP required for in-person attendance. RSVP to receive the livestream link.
On May 10, 2025, the Nerman Museum will host a fundraising gala in honor of Katherine Bernhardt and Jeremy Scott. This gala will transport participants into a vibrant world of pop culture through food, fashion, and art. This event starts at the Museum, and event sponsors and VIP guests can also attend an off-site after-party. Proceeds support Nerman Museum operations and art education activities and JCCC Historical Fashion Collection preservation. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities at nermanmuseum.org/match.
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