Skip to main
Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising

Avenir Museum of Design and Merchandising The Richard Blackwell Gallery

American fashion designer/critic Richard Blackwell (1922-2008) was a CSU benefactor whose generosity is noted in the name of this intimate gallery space (500 sq. ft.) that was designed to showcase apparel and fashion. Exhibits are planned 2-3 years in advance by Avenir Museum curatorial staff in tandem with the Department of Design and Merchandising.

May 27 - December 20, 2025 Dear Old Coat: Sentiment, Stewardship, Sustainability

Curated by Design & Merchandising graduate student, Rebecca Evans, this exhibition offers a unique lens to view the current fashion sustainability crisis by exploring historical practices of garment stewardship, including repair, reuse, and care of clothing.

A detail shot of a heavily repaired and mended men's coat from the mid 1800s.

Past Exhibitions in The Richard Blackwell Gallery

What do CSU spirit apparel, the color orange, and Moroccan caftans all have in common? Those three, along with designer apparel from Christian Dior and a history of the role of mannequins were the most recent exhibits in the Richard Blackwell Gallery.

Learn More About Past Exhibitions
Dior Exhibit of 3 flowing dresses on mannequins in the Richard Blackwell Gallery