The Leiber Collection and Sculpture Garden in Springs opens its season on Saturday with three new exhibitions: "Judith and Gerson Leiber: A Passion for Fashion," "Gerson Leiber: An Inexplicable Light," and "Garden of Friends: Ode to the Sea." The first exhibition pairs Judith Leiber's whimsical, meticulously crafted handbags with her husband Gerson Leiber's fashion paintings, highlighting a dialogue between fashion and fine art. The second focuses on Gerson Leiber's later abstract works, culminating in a triptych titled "An Inexplicable Light." The third, installed throughout the property, features 19 East End artists whose work responds to the ocean and local life.
This opening matters because it celebrates the enduring creative partnership of Judith and Gerson Leiber, whose work bridges fashion and fine art in a way that has been recognized by art museums and worn by first ladies and movie stars. The exhibitions also spotlight the vibrant East End artist community and the Leiber Collection's role in preserving and presenting their legacy, offering visitors a chance to engage with craftsmanship, abstraction, and nature-inspired art through the end of the year.