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An exhibit of rare Salvador Dalí paintings and a collection of garments designed by Kent State University School of Fashion students inspired by the Dalí artwork has opened at Peg’s Gallery in Hudson, Ohio. 

Kent State Today was on hand for the VIP reception and fashion show preview of the exhibit “Dalí Beyond Time, Fashioning the Future,” which opened to the public June 12 and will be on display through July 5.

The Dalí exhibit is a partnership between Kent State, , and the luxury fabric and menswear brand which owns the private collection of Dalí paintings commissioned by the company’s founder in 1971.

Paolo Torello-Viera, president of Tailoring Americas for the Belgian-based Scabal, received permission to bring the collection to the United States for the first time. The Hudson, Ohio-based Peg’s Foundation, a dedicated supporter of the fashion school, agreed to host the display at its new gallery space. 

Due to Scabal’s blossoming friendship with the School of Fashion, Torello-Viera sought to utilize the artwork to create an opportunity that would benefit fashion students. Over the 2025 Spring Semester, junior fashion design students were asked to use the Dalí works as inspiration to design pieces that envision the future of fashion.

At the preview event, six of the junior fashion design students were honored by Scabal with the Dalí Vision Award, with a winner and two runners-up each in the categories of creativity and craftsmanship.

As part of their prize, they will travel to New York City in late July, along with the garments they designed and the Dalí paintings, for exhibits being sponsored by Scabal.

Amanda Le, a fashion design major from Columbus, Ohio, who won the craftsmanship category, said the design project was daunting, but she relied on her concentration in knitwear to create a garment that was unusual and illustrated her knitting skills. 

Her design was a knitwear mini dress in shades of green with a hooded knit overlay and layered puffed sleeves.

Le said Kent State’s School of Fashion is like an art school within a traditional college setting, where she can enjoy the amenities of traditional campus life, such as football games – a perfect combination for her. 

“I love Kent State,” she said. “It’s the perfect mix.”

Runners-up in the craftsmanship category were fashion design students Avery Taylor of Galion, Ohio, and Cheyenne Jones of Cleveland, Ohio.

Ashleigh Stephenson, a fashion design major from Hermitage, Pennsylvania, was named the winner in the creativity category.

“I can’t imagine a bigger honor,” she said. 

Stephenson’s design was a long ivory dress with a black overlay print made of ripstop nylon strings, with wings on the back to reflect Dalí’s use of butterflies in his art.

“Kent State has been awesome,” Stephenson said. “I came here not knowing how to sew at all, so the fact that I can do something like this is proof that anyone can do it and how great of a school Kent is that they give us the tools to succeed.”

Runners-up in the creativity category were fashion design students Maya Settimi of Richmond, Kentucky, and Morgan McDermott of Chicago, Illinois. 

In addition to the Dalí originals, the ongoing exhibit features pieces of gold jewelry designed by Dalí. The exhibit continues at Peg’s Gallery, 53 First St., Hudson, Ohio, through July 5, after which the Dalí works will travel to New York for events there. The student designs, however, will remain on display along with copies of the Dalí paintings through September.

Peg’s Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and closed on Sunday and holidays. 

Main image: A design by School of Fashion student Sophia Daher.