Get ready Chicago, 2026 will kick off with a ground breaking first. The illustrious, Oscar winning costume designer Paul Tazewell will be celebrated with the first exhibition dedicated to his work. Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell, of visionary, award-winning costume and fashion designer Paul Tazewell, premieres at Griffin Museum of Science and Industry on Jan. 19, 2026. The exhibition explores Tazewell’s work and process from his childhood creations through his costumes for legendary projects like Hamilton, West Side Story and Wicked.
“This exhibition is a great privilege and honor…Being invited to share my work in a way that will be engaging and immersive, and to be able to invite others into that experience means so much to me.”
This deeply personal exhibition is a multimedia experience in the Museum’s newest space, the immersive Griffin Studio, guided by Tazewell’s own words and vision. Displays of his masterpieces combined with his narration and behind-the-scenes video, photos and sketches draw back the curtain to show how imagination becomes reality.
Crafting Character: The Costumes of Paul Tazewell exhibition will include:
Various costumes from Wicked including: Glinda’s pink bubble dress and Elphaba’s Emerald City dress
Janelle Monae MET Gala looks
Costumes, including Anita’s yellow dress, from Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story
Costumes from Broadway’s Hamilton including the Schuyler Sisters’ Winter’s Ball gowns; Hamilton, Jefferson and Burr’s suits; and King George III’s outfit
“At Griffin MSI, we believe that if you can see it, you can be it, and Paul and his work is a shining example of that notion,” said Dr. Chevy Humphrey, Griffin MSI CEO and President. “Through this exhibition and his personal story, he shows how imagination can become reality. Following his ideas from creation to conception offers a spark of inspiration for the next generation of innovators and creators who visit the Museum every day.”
Paul Tazewell’s work in theater, film and television spans three decades and has received multiple accolades. Most recently, he made history as the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Costume Design on Wicked. Additional recognitions include Tony Awards for Death Becomes Her and Hamilton on Broadway, an Emmy for The Wiz! Live, and an Academy Award nomination for West Side Story.
