Opening Celebration Garden Tea Party at The Leiber Collection

The Leiber Collection in Springs will open two new exhibitions in its museum and sculpture garden this weekend, “Judith and Gerson Leiber — Over The Top” and the “5th Annual Garden of Friends Exhibition.” An opening celebration and garden tea party will be held at The Leiber Collection on Saturday, May 25, from 2 to 5 p.m.

Famous for her iconic and revolutionary designs that marry glamour and sophistication with humor and whimsy, Judith Leiber broke many barriers that stood in her way as she rose to the top of her field. In 1939, Judith Leiber became the first female apprentice at Budapest’s premier handbag company, Pessel Handbags. She was the first female member of the Hungarian Handbag Makers Guild and the first female Master Handbag Designer in Budapest.

After W.W.II, Judith and Gerson Leiber came to New York City where she took the fashion industry by storm, breaking taboos right and left, changing fashion history forever. At the time, New York was emerging as the new fashion capital and she was the only woman pattern maker in America. Her skills became highly sought after, and before long, she was hired by the finest lady’s couture designer in America, Nettie Rosenstein. Soon, Judith Leiber was running the entire Nettie Rosenstein handbag factory and designing the finest handbags made in America at the time.

In 1963, when women were only just beginning to break down barriers to success in the workplace, she launched her own company, Judith Leiber Handbags, Inc. She became a successful entrepreneur, selling her handbags and minaudières in major department stores and fine boutiques across America.

As one of the most legendary handbag designers of all time, Judith Leiber inspired and empowered women with her iconic designs that are truly works of art. Her handbags were featured in the most esteemed fashion magazines such as Vogue, Women’s Wear Daily, Harper’s Bazaar, and others. In 1976 Judith won the COTY Award, the highest honor one could win in the field of fashion, She was the first woman and the first accessories designer to ever win the award.

“Judy shattered glass ceilings before glass ceilings were even a thing,” Gerson Leiber once said of his wife.

Unlike many men of his time, Gerson Leiber said he was willing, even delighted to put his wife’s career first. He was a vital partner in the business, Judith Lieber’s “right hand,” while at the same time creating critically acclaimed prints and paintings using the fashion world as his muse. Gerson Leiber’s works of art are in the permanent collections of The Metropolitan Museum and The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as well as other museums and private collections.

In 2005, Judith and Gerson Leiber opened The Leiber Collection and the museum and gardens continue to share their legacy and their extraordinary works of art and fashion. The Leibers died within hours of one another on April 28, 2018. The couple’s desire for their sculpture garden to be a nexus for art, music, performance and an exchange of creative ideas continues on through our outdoor exhibitions and event series.

The “5th Annual Garden of Friends Exhibition” will be on display in the Leiber Sculpture Garden and highlights exciting new work by some of the East End’s most talented artists: Monica Banks, Scott Bluedorn, Perry Burns, Philippe Cheng, Jennifer Cross, Eva Faye, Donna Green, Sandi Haber Fifield, Candace Hill Montgomery, Laurie Lambrecht, Jill Musnicki, Bastienne Schmidt, Sabina Streeter, Amy Wickersham and Almond Zigmund.

The idea for this outdoor exhibit was born to honor the spirit of Judith and Gerson Leiber and their permanent collection, always on display in the sculpture garden, which includes works by their friends and neighbors such as Bill King, Constantine Nivola, Hans Van de Bovenkamp, George Nama, Ronnie Chalif and others and contemporary artists such as Margaret Garrett, Toni Ross and Chris Kelly. The Garden of Friends embodies Judith and Gerson Leiber’s lifelong commitment to supporting the arts and builds community through artist talks, workshops and events.

The Leiber Collection is located at 446 Old Stone Highway in the hamlet of Springs in East Hampton. For more information visit leibercollection.org, email info@leibercollection.org or call 631-329-3288.