Art is much more than just the paintings and photographs that hang ceremoniously on the walls–just ask Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter. As the only Black woman to win an Oscar for Best Costume Design, it’s clear Carter has made a career out of crafting stunning, wearable art. And not just any career. Nominated for four Oscars – and a recipient of two – the trailblazing designer has worked on costumes for over 40 films, adding dimensionality and purpose to each garment she fabricates. Her creative vision – which has brought to life an all-encompassing list of characters, from Malcom X to Prince T’challa – is uniquely versatile, and continuously shapes the way in which audiences experience Black narratives in American cinema. 

The Art of Ruth E. Carter, a behind-the-scenes collection of unseen sketches, film stills, and mood boards, reflects on her illustrious decade-spanning career as an industry pioneer. Here, Carter pulls back the cinematic curtain, inviting readers to explore the innermost thoughts behind her designs, from her cultural and historical intentionality to the intuitiveness that sets the designer apart from her peers. Spanning her early days working alongside Spike Lee in the ‘90s to her strikingly emblematic costumes for Marvel, the book leaves no stone unturned. 

The Art of Ruth E. Carter is now available to purchase.