Patrick Kelly: Nothing is Impossible 
The Shaw-Holmes Collection
Cody Gallery, Marymount University
Curated by Julia Ravindran
Elizabeth Shaw – The Shaw-Holmes Collection
January 18, 2025 – March 8, 2025
Guest Talk with
Elizabeth Shaw: Thursday, January 23 at 4:30pm
Reception to follow: 5:00 – 7:00pm
The Patrick Kelly: Nothing is Impossible exhibit highlights a circa 1980’s young fashion designer’s determination to become someone whose designs would make you smile. He often described himself as the male, black Lucille Ball, wanting his designs to bring fun and joy in life. Mr. Kelly incorporated his southern roots into his work including using black memorabilia golliwogs, mismatched buttons, bows, and hearts. His fashion journey led him from Mississippi to Atlanta, New York and Paris.
He taught himself how to sew and, while a junior in high school, creating dresses for girls in the neighborhood. While working at a thrift store in Atlanta, he would secure designer clothing and re-invent them to sell. His focus was inclusiveness in designs. In 1987, telling People magazine, “I design for fat women, skinny women, all kinds of women. My message is, you’re beautiful just the way you are.” Kelly maintained this stance throughout his design career.
Patrick Kelly became the first American and first black designer to be elected to France’s prestigious Chambre Syndicale du prêt-à-porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode. The syndicale is the governing body for the French fashion industry dedicated to preserving and promoting haute couture. Kelly produced ten collections to include a collaboration with Benetton. While he may not be a household name, his celebrity clients include Bette Davis, Paloma Picasso, Grace Jones, Madonna, Gloria Steinem, Cicely Tyson, and Goldie Hawn.
The Cody Gallery offers a rare opportunity to see Patrick Kelly’s work. This collection, provided by the Shaw-Holmes Collection, showcases more than 20 Patrick Kelly creations including unique accessories of bows, pins, and jewelry. It features an early ribbed, tubular jersey dress; two examples of his heart button dresses; the “dice” suit; the “nail” jacket; several animal print items as well as the iconic Eiffel Tower dress. Currently, there are only two main repositories featuring Kelly’s garments in the United States – one at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the other at Jackson State University.
Cody Gallery is a contemporary art space created as a platform to support the arts and strengthen the arts community at Marymount University and the greater Washington DC area. The gallery is operated by the School of Design + Art at Marymount.
Location: 1000 N. Glebe Rd., 2nd Fl., Arlington, VA 22201
Learn more about Cody Gallery: Marymount.edu/cody-gallery
