Leiber purses, paintings at Art League

Grace McQuade

The Art League of Long Island will present a new exhibit, “Their Passion for Fashion: Of Purses & Paintings” by iconic, Long Island couple, Judith and Gerson Leiber.

The exhibition will be on display from Saturday, Sept. 16 to Friday, Oct. 27.

Judith is the internationally celebrated handbag designer, and Gerson has made his mark as a modernist American artist.

Their talents are strong and singular, but when combined with their unique love story and passion for the arts, it is a match that is legendary.

Together for over 70 years, these two nonagenarians share an unbreakable bond personally and professionally.

The exhibit has something for everyone to enjoy – from the fanciful handbags to the stunning paintings of fashion and flowers, art league officials said.

The story of the Leibers began in Budapest, in the spring of 1945.

Judith, who had grown up in an elegant, Hungarian-Jewish family, had survived the Holocaust after many hardships.

Gerson was a U.S. Army radio operator, who hailed from a small town in Pennsylvania and came to the city to assist in Eastern Europe’s liberation.

The two met serendipitously, fell in love, and eventually left for New York with big dreams.

Their love of culture and art was mutual, which led them to accomplish great things together.

“It was our promised land,” said Judith of her arrival in New York with Gerson in 1947. “Though we were motivated by a shared desire to be successful, we were driven by sheer fear.  It gave us each a tremendous impetus to reach our goals.”

Along with her treasured tools of the trade, Judith Leiber took with her the skills of a master craftsperson, which were immediately sought after at the top fashion houses, including for Nettie Rosenstein of the LBD (little black dress) fame.

Over the coming decades, her career soared as she designed handbags with exotic skins, leathers, gems and other unique materials.

Her handbags have gloriously passed the test of time and style and are built to last.

Judith later came to invent her signature style of imaginative, bejeweled minaudières in whimsical shapes from colorful animals, fruit and even a peacock.

She produced over 3,500 designs and First Ladies, including Barbara Bush, Mamie Eisenhower and Nancy Reagan, as well as movie stars and celebrities, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Beverly Sills, Jennifer Lopez and Blake Lively, have worn her handbags.

Judith crafts with precision engineering and describes her mission by saying, “I design the shading and highlighting so that every crystal counts. It’s the way to make it perfect.”

These purses are not just for the rich and famous — people all over the world covet her handbags and they are often cherished for special occasions and even passed down as heirlooms.

There are even collectors who specialize in exclusively acquiring Judith Leiber originals.

In addition to running their fashion empire, Gerson pursued his ambitions of being a fine artist, resulting in having his work collected by over 60 museums.

From his modernist style that includes cubism and abstract expressionism, he also explored the art of printmaking and sculpture.

As seen in this exhibition, he used the fashion world as his muse to create images of models on the runway and other glamorous settings that he and Judith encountered along the way.

As stated in one of the Leiber’s catalogues, “Behind and surrounding the accessories… are the party people depicted in the fashion-world paintings, drawings, and prints of Gerson Leiber, which invest these pristine objects with a living spirit. The ghosts of Seventh Avenue in the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s rise to gawk, talk, and observe…”

Their palladian-style museum is located on the Leiber property in the East Hampton hamlet of the Springs.

It is situated in the middle of gardens designed by Gerson himself.

His love for nature is evident in his floral, still-life pastel drawings, some on display for the first time ever in this exhibition.

In addition to the exhibit, there will be a special reception at the Art League on Sunday, Oct. 15 as the Leibers and their contributions as artist and artisan will be honored at an afternoon event.

This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy the show in a private atmosphere.

Tickets are $50 per person.

With each ticket purchase, guests are automatically placed in a raffle contest for a unique prize: a private visit with Gerson and Judith Leiber and a VIP curator-led tour of the Leiber Collection in East Hampton.

During the event, guests will have the opportunity to “meet and greet” the Leibers, as well as listen to a talk about their lives and legacy by their museum curator, Ann Fristoe Stewart.

Stewart will also discuss her search for over 3,500 original Leiber handbags for the collection.

As part of the exhibition, the Art League invites handbag owners to pose for a photo holding their Leiber bag (or bring their own photo) to be posted on a “Wall of Fame.”

The Art League of Long Island is located at 107 East Deer Park Road in Dix Hills.

For more information or an invitation to this private reception, contact Bobbie Janowitz, Director of Donor Relations, Events & Membership at 631-462-5400 or go to www.artleagueli.net.

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