Shoes are, in their basic form, humble objects. Created to give human feet a buffer from the ground, they have become the focus of some of the most outrageous design ideas in history. High-heeled shoes, originally created in ancient Egypt to denote higher social class, have become ubiquitous in contemporary society. Kick Up Your Heels celebrates the art of high-heeled shoes, showcasing designers such as Manolo Blahnik, Jimmy Choo, Christian Dior, Diane von Furstenberg, Nicholas Kirkwood, Prada, Sonia Rykiel,

Walter Steiger, and Stuart Weitzman, among others. This exciting exhibition highlights the unique design elements that make each shoe a distinct work of art: unusual heels, delicate cut-outs, intricate leatherwork, flashy color or material combinations, and many others.

This exhibition and accompanying educational programming have been made possible by Collins Aerospace and the Richard D. Pinney Exhibition Fund. Additional support has

been provided by the Hotel-Motel Tax Fund, the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts, members of the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, and contributors to the Museum’s Annual Fund. Annual educational programming support has been provided in part by Transamerica.