Art & Design Teacher Donwan Harrell P’21, 26’ kicked off the 2026-2027 Swartley Gallery Series with a brilliant collection of denim fashion designs and sketches spanning a career as a lauded clothing designer, creative director, entrepreneur, and educator. A reception was held this week for the exhibit, titled “No Lesson Plan,” which will be showcased through Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The exhibit features designs from his fashion collections, including luxury denim brand, PRPS, carried by retailers such as Barney’s and Bergdorf Goodman and worn by celebrities from Jay-Z to David Beckham. One eye-catching piece was a denim jacket lined with graphic prints of movie stars, including Marilyn Monroe and James Dean, wearing Lee jeans in their film roles. These depictions helped turn denim into a fashion staple rather than utilitarian workwear. Also on view are athletic jersey designs that Mr. Harrell developed as part of an international collaboration with Nike.
Among his most recent work are mixed-media collages that combine digitized images with vibrant embroideries and monograms created with an industrial embroidery machine. According to Mr. Harrell, the exhibit’s theme represents the unknowns that have been part of his career trajectory. “From designing menswear for Robert Stock and DKNY to launching my own lines and transitioning to teaching, there was never a plan or a script,” he said. Seizing the opportunity was his biggest driving force. Thanks to Mr. Harrell for sharing some of the highlights of his work with the D-E community!