This weekend we suggest heading uptown to see the beautiful Fortuny exhibit at the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute.

The show is devoted to the Venetian textile maven Mariano Fortuny.

Fortuny was born in Grenada, Spain in 1871, but travelled widly with his family—North Africa, Paris, Rome—collecting artifacts, decorative obects and a wealth of inspiration along the way.

This wordly taste and wide-ranging interest is immediately present throughout the show. His textiles are composed of Persian motifs, while his groundbreaking fashions reflect his passion for all things Asian.

Among his most famous designs was the stunningly simple, yet groundbreaking Delphos dress (named for the Greek oracle Delphi). The dress is composed of intricately knife-pleated silk and produced in a pantheon of color-ways.

His sheaths were among the first to showcase the female form in a loose, body-skimming silhouette—free from cumbersome corsets.

His iconic designs were adopted by modern artists of the time like dancer Isadora Duncan and her daughters. The model Tina Chow became a fervent supporter in later years.

This exhibition also highlights Fortuny's multi-layered career. He was a celebrated photographer, painter, printmaker and textile designer.

In fact his famous his textured wallpaper is still in production today.

Fortuny's groundbreaking designs are thoughtful and timeless. We love art that has the ability to transcend history and become apart of the cultural dialogue on society.

Fortuny y Madrazo: An Artistic Legacy runs through March 30, 2013.

What are your weekend plans? We would love to know!