Isabel Toledo was born in Camajuaní, Las Villas, a colonial
town in Cuba's legendary Valley of the Sugar Mills. Ruben
Toledo, who would later be her husband, was born in
Havana. Along with many Cubans of the 1960s, they
arrived in the United States with their families while still
children, and were processed as political refugees at the
Freedom Tower, in the heart of Miami. Their story is one of
passion, creativity and perseverance, an exhilarating
trajectory through the worlds of art, design and fashion.
Their singular body of work, celebrated in this exhibition at
The Freedom Tower, is a great testament to the promise
and fulfillment of The American Dream.

Beginning with the launch of her first collection in 1985,
Isabel Toledo was immediately recognized as one of the
fashion world's brightest innovators and a best-kept secret
– one divulged to all when First Lady Michelle Obama wore
Isabel's now iconic lemongrass lace ensemble to President
Barack Obama's historic inauguration in 2009.

Toledo/Toledo: Full Circle showcases the essence of the
incomparable yin-yang relationship of the Toledos, beginning
with a timeline of their journey from Cuba to the New
York underground art scene of the 1980s and their elevation
into the highest strata of international creative
achievement and recognition. Archival footage of their
creative progression is projected in the adjacent film room.
A 28-year retrospective of Isabel's designs is displayed on
mannequins created by Ruben in the central gallery,
showcasing Isabel's most emblematic design concepts
grouped by recurring themes: Origami displays the
concept of garments formed by the folded repetition of
pattern shapes. Suspension demonstrates how garments
constructed from a balanced central core gracefully defy
gravity. Liquid architecture highlights the structural lines
that give form to jersey garments. Organic geometry
conveys Toledos' ability to transform geometric shapes
into complex amorphous structures. Manipulated surface
explores how Toledo alters the weave and surface of
textiles to achieve an armor akin to a second skin. Shape
highlights the soft sculptural quality of her clothes.
Shadow examines the play between the transparent and
the opaque.

Since 2005, the Freedom Tower
at Miami Dade College has served
as the flagship venue for premier
exhibitions and the administrative
offices of MDC's Museum &
Galleries of Art Design; including
the newly founded, MDC Museum
of Art Design. With more than
13,000 square feet of exhibition
space, the Museum is known
for its presentation of exhibitions
by emerging artists, as well as
major figures in modern,
post-modern and contemporary
art. The MDC Museum of
Art Design vision is to present
world-renowned artists, support
the vast community of local
emerging and established artists,
and allow a platform to present
exhibitions by MDC's many
distinguished students, alumni
and faculty.

Tours

For museum and gallery hours,
please call 305.237.7700
or visit www.mdcmoad.orgor
www.mdc.edu/galleries.
The MDC Museum and Galleries
of Art Design are closed
on Sundays, and most legal
and College holidays.

For information on exhibitions,
please call 305.237.7700 or visit
www.mdcmoad.org or
www.mdc.edu/galleries