LACMA's 'Tim Burton' is a Monster Mash of Inspiration

Friday, May 27, 2011

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is opening a new exhibit this weekend that's sure to provide plenty of creative inspiration for costume designers who pride themselves on cutting-edge originality.

From the limitless creative mind of Tim Burton – as well as from his sketch books, photos, films and storyboards – comes the inspiration behind LACMA’s Tim Burton career retrospective, which opens May 29. The exhibit traces the wonderful and wild creative impetus of some of the iconic filmmaker’s stylish blockbusters, like The Nightmare Before Christmas and Alice in Wonderland, which was the highest grossing film of last year. Early paintings, concept drawings and 700-plus other archival material culled from Burton's private collection and from the designers and studios he has worked with show the progress of creating those timeless films, which include equally memorable costumes, such as Michelle Pfeiffer's often-imitated Catwoman suit created by L.A.-based Syren Couture and designed by Bob Ringwood for 1992's Batman Returns, and Johnny Depp's pseudo-fetish gear designed by Burton's longtime Oscar-winning collaborator Colleen Atwood for 1990's Edward Scissorhands.

The Burbank-born filmmaker will be making a special appearance at LACMA on May 28 to sign copies of the Tim Burton exhibition catalogues and the Art of Tim Burton books purchased at one of LACMA’s stores.

The museum is also preparing for Sunday's exhibit launch by showcasing some of Burton's best films, with tonight's screening of Edward Scissorhands and Ed Wood on May 28.

LACMA is at 5905 Wilshire Blvd. General admission for the Tim Burton exhibit is $20.