The Art of Fashion
May 10, 2025
Navigate
About
Indulge in an extraordinary evening where culinary artistry meets haute couture at our exclusive gala. Chef Scott Cooper of Le Papillon will present an exquisite dining experience complete with carefully selected wine and cocktail pairings. The evening will be enhanced by the presence of distinguished artists and designers, whose creative contributions will transform the atmosphere while embodying our commitment to supporting the artistic community. Through this unique fusion of fashion, gastronomy, and art, we celebrate Montalvo’s vibrant role in the cultural landscape of Silicon Valley. (Attire: Elegant with Flair)
Collaborators
IB Bayo
Learn more…
Born in Osogbo, Nigeria, the ninth generation of a traditional weaving family, Bayo (pronounced BIO) learned his trade at an early age from generations of cloth artisans. He learned to weave and dye from his mother, and to sew from his father who made traditional clothing for Nigerian royalty. Bayo began sewing at age five and remembers sitting on his dad’s lap at the sewing machine before his leg could reach the pedal. Growing up, he also learned to sell cotton, dye yarn, iron and fold, do beading, and hand-embroidery. Bayo attended the Nike Center for Art and Culture in Osogbo, Nigeria where he studied batik cloth dying, quilt making, reverse appliqué, and clothing design. Nike is an international treasure for her artwork and her school dedicated to preserving traditional Yoruba art forms.
Peter Esparza
Learn more…
Peter Esparza, the song of Mexican immigrant parents, is a fashion designer based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. Growing up in the east side of San Jose, he became familiarized with all the traditional Mexican holidays. Dia de los Muertos became his favorite holiday to celebrate, enjoying the bright, cheerful take on what is usually a mournful subject. Inspired by Dia de los Muertos, this collection uses the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe, which is commonly used to decorate altars for loved ones who have passed away. He’s embellished the image of the Virgen de Guadalupe with beads and crystals to mimic the glitter that’s commonly used to decorate her portrait, in an effort to create wearable pieces that can be used to celebrate Dia de los Muertos, and also be worn year-round.
Tobin W. Keller
Learn more…
Tobin W. Keller received a Bachelor of Fine Art degree from California College of Arts and a Master of Fine Arts from Mills College, studying at both institutions under the guidance of mentor/artist Jay DeFeo. After completing his studies, Tobin began working as an exhibiting artist in San Francisco, represented by galleries, agents, and designers. His non-textile artwork can be found in numerous corporate and private collections. As a Santa Cruz County resident, he has been teaching for the Cabrillo College Art Department, instructing a variety of two-dimensional courses including printmaking, 2D mixed media, drawing and painting, color and design. During his tenure, Tobin spent a year’s sabbatical in Paris, London, and New York, researching the history of European fabric printing and practicing traditional techniques of hand-dyeing and printing silk fabrics. Through direct and indirect inspiration and influence, Tobin honed his art of dying and screen-printing fabric, introducing a narrative to his designs with symbolic color and imagery.
Charlotte Kruk
Learn more…
Most recognized for her wearable sculptures, Charlotte Kruk elevates post-consumer product packaging to fine art. Kruk’s sculptures incorporate genuinely purchased, meticulously unwrapped, consumed and conscientiously collated garbage. Each element of “trash” is carefully stitched together side by side to create new textiles, which beg to be evaluated. These wearable sculptures “slyly wink” at a culture that often compares women, particularly well-dressed women, to decorations, consumables; “eye candy”. Whimsically initiating a dialogue on packaging, brand association, and power structure, Kruk’s sculptures also direct a commentary on the gluttony and wastefulness of a disposable, packaged society. Kruk’s artwork has been exhibited extensively throughout San Jose, Kohler Arts Center, Racine Art Museum in Wisconsin and Legion of Honor in San Francisco. While moonlighting as a professional artist, Kruk has been teaching Sculpture Arts at Lynbrook High School in San Jose, California since 1998.
Franco Masoma
Learn more…
Franco Masoma is California’s top-ranked custom clothier, known for timeless elegance, intentional design, and masterful craftsmanship. Founded by Franco, a refugee of the Soviet-Afghan war, the brand was built from the ground up—one stitch at a time. Today, garments are designed in Los Gatos and handcrafted in Italy, serving professionals, creatives, and leaders who value confidence, quality, and quiet luxury.
Namita Paul
Learn more…
Namita Paul is a San Francisco-based artist whose work bridges personal narratives and collective histories. Engaging deeply with themes of home, rupture, memory, and repair, Paul’s practice draws inspiration from architectural spaces and the lingering imprints they leave on our lives. Her current work delves into the emotional and spatial echoes of grief, exploring how physical environments shape and reflect inner landscapes. Often, her work contemplates the symbolic and material presence of debris—fragments of what once was—as metaphors for loss, transition, and resilience.
Guided by concept and material, Paul employs a diverse range of media—large-scale installation, drawing, painting, printmaking, textiles, and photography—to render visible the intersections of time, place, and memory. Her art transforms personal experiences into shared reflections, illuminating the invisible ties between space and sentiment.
Namita Paul holds a BA in Interdisciplinary Visual Arts, an MA in Cultural Studies from the University of Washington, and an MFA from the California College of the Arts.
Photo by Mido Lee.
Azadeh Riaz
Learn more…
Azadeh Riaz, a visionary in high fashion, has spent over three decades shaping the industry, from co-creating BEBE to establishing a legacy of luxury retail. With over 24 years of success in Los Gatos, Silicon Valley, and five exclusive locations nationwide—including Union Square, San Francisco—her expertise in design, manufacturing, and styling has catered to an elite clientele.
Today, House of Azadeh at The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco, continues this tradition, offering a meticulously curated selection of exclusive Italian and French designers alongside Azadeh’s own brand of evening wear, cocktail attire, and tailored suits. More than just a boutique, it is a destination for personalized, one-on-one styling and wardrobe curation, ensuring each client receives unparalleled attention and access to the finest European and American fashion. In a world of mass-market retail, House of Azadeh stands apart, redefining luxury through exclusivity, craftsmanship, and impeccable service.
For more information, please contact our office in San Francisco and book a complimentary consultation with Azadeh Riaz. As a guest of this special event, enjoy an exclusive opportunity to experience our personalized services firsthand.
Rose Sellery
Learn more…
Rose Sellery is a self-taught artist and the Co-Director of M.K. Contemporary Art. With over twenty years of experience in curating exhibitions, she has worked independently as well as with the Cabrillo Gallery in Aptos. Partnering with Melissa Kreisa, Rose helped established M.K. Contemporary Art as one of the premier galleries in Santa Cruz.
Rose Seller is a multidisciplinary artist who works with a diverse range of materials to create humorous, thought-provoking, and occasionally unsettling three-dimensional pieces. Her work often evokes moments of reflection, laughter, and, at times, tears. Sellery’s art has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, with notable showings at venues such as SOMArts in San Francisco, the Oakland Museum Artist’s Gallery, Bedford Gallery/Dean Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek, the San Jose ICA, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, Anne and Mark’s Art Part in San Jose, and the Monterey Museum of Art. Her international exhibitions have taken place in France, Belgium, Germany, and New Zealand.
Sudnya Shroff
Learn more…
I am a storyteller. I recognize that uncertainty is home to infinite possibilities; not knowing is most intimate; and love is the answer to fear.
I am drawn to joining hands with fellow humans seeking collective liberation.
My Indian roots, my immigrant American experience, my early rigorous training and work in technology, subsequent entrepreneurial ventures, and my role as a nurturer form the bedrock of my value system and inform whatever it is I’m called to do.
I am passionate about art and awe-inspiring beauty as an end in and of itself. A valuable insight from my journey through art has awakened me to its most powerful side effect—it’s potential to transform pain so that we stop transmitting it.
Simon Ungless
Learn more…
Coming soon!
and Participating Artists from West Valley College School of Fashion Design
Led by Shannon Mirabelli-Lopez and Lorrie McPheeters
Frances Cooke
Joshua Cruz
Marcus Jackson
Lorrie McPheeters
with thanks to
Tina Brown
Learn more…
I’m a fashion stylist and I live in Santa Cruz, California. I work with amazing clients throughout Silicon Valley and the Monterey Bay Area. I’ve developed my own trademark Three Elements of Style — body shape, coloring, and most importantly, your personality — to build a fashion platform that really reflects who you are, and what looks best on you. I’ll work with your existing wardrobe and within your budget to get the most from your own closet. And if you don’t have time to shop, I can do that too.
ilkastyle: Tina’s company name “ilka” is derived from an ancient Scottish word that means “each and every.” The ilka philosophy of “Each and Every Style” is about identifying how to dress to enhance your figure; highlight your coloring; flatter your face; and bring out your personal style. Tina truly believes if you feel good about how you look you will be happier and more confident.
Auction
Coming Soon
Bid on once-in-a-lifetime experiences, from a luxurious Hawaii getaway to an exclusive private concert. Indulge in the extraordinary with champagne, caviar, and so much more! Stay tuned for exclusive announcements on our extraordinary auction items.
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsors
Sally Lucas • Charmaine and Dan Warmenhoven
Platinum Sponsors
Michael and Christine Groom • Heritage Bank and Jack and Jill Conner • Lucy Li • Chris and Steve Gomo • Diane Brandenburg
Gold Sponsors
David and Lori Hsieh • Juliette Davis and Jerry Glembocki and Marcia and Chris Riedel • Barry and Toby Fernald • Werner and Annette Finsterbusch • Phyllis Gardner • Debbie and Ward Harriman • Kim Worsencroft and Dennis McEvoy • Eileen Nelson and Ron Sege
With Special Thanks To
David and Rosemary Adamson • Jo and Barry Ariko • Janice and Steve Chaffin • Paul and Barbara Chinn • Libby and Paul Conrado • Gretchen and Matt DiNapoli • Melinda and John DiNapoli • David Dustin • Laura Engdahl • Kim and Jim Funk • Colleen and Tom Ferguson • Joseph George Wines • April and Mike Gilley • Marcia and Russ Hansen • Barbara and Austin Kilburn • Sydene Kober • Patti and Tom Larkins • Kathryn and Ray Montalvo • Denise and Mark Mingrone • Selina Lo and Dominic Orr • Lorena Perez-Rockwood and Adam Rockwood • Roger Schwab • Rombauer Winery • Claudia and Mario Shen • Jeff and Leann Sobrato • Roger and Dede Smullen • Cathie and Jeff Thermond • Gayla and Walt Wood
Sponsorship Information
If you are interested in reserving a table or sponsorship information, please contact:
Kelly Castellon • kcastellon@montalvoarts.org • (408) 961-5849
Lisa Cavigliano • lcavigliano@montalvoarts.org • (408) 961-5841
Karen McQuade • kmcquade@montalvoarts.org • (408) 961-5828