Ernesto Esposito: Shoe Designer and Art Collector
Ernesto Esposito, an Italian shoe designer who began his career in the 1970s with Sergio Rossi, has built an art collection featuring works by Andy Warhol, Barbara Kruger, Katharina Grosse, Richard Prince, John Baldessari, Joseph Beuys, Cindy Sherman, George Condo, Leonardo Devito, and Adam Handler. Esposito, who grew up in Naples, Italy, says the city's pervasive beauty—where one might encounter a Caravaggio or Artemisia Gentileschi in a church—shaped his aesthetic. His own shoe designs pair classic silhouettes with daring elements like leopard-print pony hair and red patent leather.
Key facts
- Ernesto Esposito is an Italian shoe designer and collector.
- He began his career in the 1970s with Sergio Rossi.
- His collection includes works by Andy Warhol, Barbara Kruger, Katharina Grosse, Richard Prince, John Baldessari, Joseph Beuys, Cindy Sherman, George Condo, Leonardo Devito, and Adam Handler.
- Esposito grew up in Naples, Italy, where art is part of everyday life.
- Naples has churches with works by Caravaggio and Artemisia Gentileschi.
- His shoe designs include towering open-toe heels in leopard-print pony hair and red patent leather.
Entities
Artists
- Ernesto Esposito
- Andy Warhol
- Barbara Kruger
- Katharina Grosse
- Richard Prince
- John Baldessari
- Joseph Beuys
- Cindy Sherman
- George Condo
- Leonardo Devito
- Adam Handler
- Caravaggio
- Artemisia Gentileschi
- Sergio Rossi
Institutions
- Sergio Rossi
Locations
- Naples
- Italy
Sources
- Artsy —