Summary

Internationally recognized and award-winning Couturiere, who has, for more than 20 years owned and operated a successful couture atelier.  Through a unique design style inspired by nature, art and universe Colleen Quen has garnered a loyal international clientele and a red carpet/celebrity exposure.  Quen’s life mission is to internally and externally continue pushing boundaries and influencing the context of fashion through art and design internationally.

2017 * Recognized as a Label of Quality and Excellence and recently have been invited as a Member de la Federation Francaise de la Creation Couture Sur Mesure in Paris

Commissions

o Costume Designer: Alonzo King LINES Ballet, International

--Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Theatre National de Challot, Paris 2013

--Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Maison del la Danse, Lyon France 2013

--100th Anniversary Ballets Russes, "Scheherazade", Zakir Hussain; Monte Carlo; 2009

--Alonzo King and “Shaolin Monks” (World Premiere); Italy, Holland, France; 2007

--Alonzo King and “The Moroccan Project” (World Premiere); Germany, France, Italy; 2005

--Alonzo King and "Koto" (World Premiere); Lyon, France and Venice, Italy; 2003-2004

--Alonzo King and "Who Dressed You Like a Foreigner?", Pharaoh Sanders (National); 2004

--Alonzo King and "Carnivale" and "Tania-Flamenco" (National); 2002

--Alonzo King and "The People of the Forest" (National); 2001

o Costume Designer: Levy Dance, San Francisco

--Levy Dancers, Ben Levy, "Bone Lines" with Kronos Quartet (National); 2007

--Levy Dancers and Colleen Quen, “The Supper Club, Modern Dance and Fashion, San Francisco; 2005    

o Fashion and Interior Design: Boutique Hotel Diva

--"LeeQuen Lounge Fifth Floor", San Francisco; 2007

o Costume Designer: Facing East Dance and Music

--Angel Island Dance Project, San Francisco; 2003

--Five Elements, San Francisco; 2001

o Champagne Perrier Jouet 100th Anniversary/American Ballet Theatre Benefit Gala “Le Bal de Fleur”, The Surrogate’s Court, New York City; 2002

o Champagne Perrier Jouet 100th Anniversary Evening Gown commission for Vivica A. Fox, New York City; 2002

Sponsorships

o 9th Annual Fashion on The Square, Guest Couture Designer San Francisco, 2013

o El Paseo Palm Springs Fashion Week, Guest Designer Fashion Show, Palm Springs, California; 2010

o The Arthritis Foundation

--"The New Look" Fashion Show, St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco; 2010

--"Fleurtations" Fashion Show, St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco; 2003

o Champagne Perrier Jouet/Nob Hill Spa/Huntington Hotel, “Fleur Inspired” Fashion Show; 2002

Art Grants

o National Endowment for the Arts, Access to Excellence Grant, the ZERO1 Art & Technology Network. Grant supported the TECHstlye SoftWEARSurface & Shapeinstallation, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, CA 2010

o Irvine Foundation Creative Connections Grant to expand TECHstlye SoftWEARSurface & Shape installation, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, CA 2010

o Applied Material Excellence in the Arts Grant to expand TECHstlye SoftWEARSurface & Shape installation, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, CA 2010

Art Galleries

• Live  Worms Gallery-  “In the Spirit of Fashion” Selected work, San Francisco, September

September 14-16,  2017.  

 * The China Brotsky Gallery, “in the Spirit of Fashion”, The Thoreau Center for Sustainability,

     San Francisco, June 12- Sept 5, 2014.  Benefit for AAWAA. 

     July 10, August 7 and Sept 4- Live painting.

*   SF MOMA Artists Gallery-  Fort Mason, San Francisco.  July 2014- present

Exhibitions

o “Cousu D’or, Magical Weaving”  Tissages Ekaya, Monday 29 January 2018 – 6- 8pm  Sofitel Paris Le Faoubourg, 15 rue Boissy d’Anglas, 75008 Paris.  Exposition January 22- February 25, 2018.  Federation Francaise de la Creation Couture Sur Mesure, Paris.

o The California Museum: “California’s Remarkable Women “, 200 diverse women who have strengthened, shaped and served the Godlen State.  The exhibition honors Couture Designer Colleen Quen’s Madame Butterfly. 2011-present.

o The San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles/ ZeroOne: The Art and Technology,

“TechStyle and Softwear” Installation; Corinne Okada Takara, Colleen Quen and Rick Lee.

Permanent Collection.  San Jose, 2010

o The California Museum, "The Women's Conference" Exhibit, three “Butterfly Gowns”; 2010

o Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Biennale II Opening Exhibit, LeeQuen "The Butterfly Dream", Shanghai, China; 2008

o LeeQuen Atelier, "Oroborus" Fashion and Furniture Exhibition, San Francisco; 2007

o Asian Art Museum/LeeQuen Atelier, "Five Elements" Fashion and Furniture Exhibition, San Francisco; 2003

o Vanity Fair Atelier/Ted, Inc./Bryant Park Hotel/Champagne Perrier Jouet, "Fleur Blanc de Blancs Gown", New York; 2002

o LeeQuen Atelier, "Five Elements" Fashion and Furniture Exhibition, San Francisco; 2000

Group Selected Exhibitions

o Mark Wolfe Gallery, San Francisco, "Interpreting Ancient Chinese Fashion"; 2008

o W Hotel Westwood, Los Angeles, "The Little Black Dress: Thirty West Coast Designers”; 2005

o 30 Vandam Boutique, New York, "From Bryant Park to Wall Street: Dress for Success” Fashion Show with Lucky Magazine/Tim Gunn; 2004

o Yerba Buena Center of the Arts Museum, "Seamless: A New Breed of Fashion Show", San Francisco; 2002

o Oakland Museum, "Fusion Artwear" Fashion Show, Cicada Boutique, Oakland, California; 1998

Professional Selected Exhibitions/Awards/Media Recognition

o Fashion on The Square, Certificate of Honor from the City and County of SF- Honored  and Inspired as native SF Couture Designer- with FOTS- 15 years retrospective of my Designs. 2013

o Fashion on The Square, Certificate of Honor from the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of S.F-  Recognition of artistry and 30 years in dedication in the Design Industry in SF, 2013.

o Isadora Duncan Award, “Scheherazade”- Alonzo King’s Ballet- San Francisco, Outstanding Achievement in Visual Design for Costume Design. 2012

o San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) 75th Anniversary “Muse” Campaign, Colleen Quen, Artist Iconic Muse with “Woman with a Hat” by Henri Matisse, San Francisco; 2010

o San Francisco Magazine, “The Best of the Bay: Obsessions”, Fashion Designer Colleen Quen,

2008

o New York IMG Fashion Week Live/Sephora Fashion Show, SF Representative Fashion Designer,

Alek Wek, San Francisco; 2007

o Fashion Group International, 9th Annual Rising Star Award, Finalist in Womens’ Ready-to-Wear Category, New York; 2006

o GenArts Fresh Faces, "Inspiration Defined", Asian Art Museum, San Francisco; 2004

o 7x7 Magazine (San Francisco), “The Hot Issue”, Rick Lee and Colleen Quen; 2003

o GenArts 4th Annual International Competition, Eveningwear Finalist, Hammerstein Ballroom, New York; 2002

o Asian Week, “The Best of the Asian Pacific American Bay Area”, Fashion Designer; 2002

Fashion Week

o Palm Springs "Quen of the Earth", El Paseo Palm Springs; 2010

o San Francisco “Compassion”, San Francisco Design Center; 2006

o San Francisco "Empress’s New Clothes", Palace of Fine Arts; 2005

o San Francisco "Spring is in the Air", Palace of Fine Arts; 2004

Seminars and Instruction

o Water Color Painting Instructor: Walt Disney Museum, San Francisco, April 2014

o Fashion Design Instructor, California College of the Arts, 2013 to 2017.

o Speaker, The Women's Conference/Maria Shriver, "Only in California: A Celebration of California Creativity", The California Museum, Sacramento; 2010

o Fashion Design Instructor, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, San Francisco; 2009 to 2014.

o Fashion Design Instructor, San Francisco City College, San Francisco; 2005

o Speaker, Open House Seminars, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, San Francisco; 2000 to present

Media Profile Recognition

Select  Film

o “ Colleen Quen” 3-minute film, by Le Lu Productions.  2013

o "Interpreting Ancient Chinese Fashion: Miao Tribal Villages 2008-2009” , a PBS Documentary featuring  Quen as a fashion journalist and narrator, d3 Productions; premiere screening 2008

o Alonzo King Venice, Italy Short Film, “Madame Butterfly” gown; 2004

Commercials

o Mattel, Inc./Brownstone Productions, Inc., Los Angeles, “I Can Be” TV Spot, Barbie Fashion Designer; Movie Theatres: AMC, Regal, Cinemark, Kerasotes, Hollywood, Georgia, Goodrich. 2010

Select Television

o CWTV, “America’s Next Top Model” Cycle 9, Episode 3, Guest Designer/Fashion Show and Judge, Los Angeles; 2007

o CBS, “48th Annual Grammy Awards”, Melissa Rivers wearing “Kenya” cocktail dress on red carpet, Los Angeles; 2006

o FOX, “The Tyra Banks Show”, Tyra Banks wearing “Paris” dress; 2005

o E! Entertainment, “32nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards”, Tyra Banks interviewed by Jerry Hall wearing Emmy Award Evening gown, New York; 2005

o CBS, “32nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards”, Tyra Banks wearing Colleen Quen gown as presenter, Radio City Music Hall, New York; 2005

o FOX, “North Shore” (TV series)“Green Lily” cocktail dress; 2004

o “The Larry King Show”, McKenzie Westmore wearing “Ribbon” evening dress; 2004

o PBS Special, New York 100th Anniversary Perrier Jouet “La Bal de Fleur” Event and Vivica A. Fox wearing Colleen Quen Couture Anniversary gown.  2003

o E! Fashion Style, “Big Boutique”, Television profile, United Kingdom, 2003

Select Local Television Profiles

o KPIX, “Eye on the Bay”, profile/interview, Fashion Designer, “The Black and White Ball”; 2010

o KPIX, profile/interview, Bay Area Fashion Designer, Asian American Heritage Month; 2008

o KGO, “View from the Bay”, profiles/interviews, "Miao Collection", "Oroborus"; 2008/2007/2006

o KQED, “Spark!”, profile with Ben Levy, Costume Designer for "Bone lines"; 2008

Select Newspaper/Internet/Magazine Profiles    

o Style SF Chronicle,  Madame Butterfly- Designer Colleen Quen spreads her wings in first art Exhibiton- 2014

o Style SF Chronicle, Calender- In the Spirit of Fashion- June 12, 2014

o Style SF Chronicle, Calender- Disney Painting Class with Colleen Quen, April 2014

o Style SF Chronicle, Fashion on the Square, By Tony Bravos, 2013

o Style SF Chronicle, Preview: Colleen Quen on the Runway, By Tony Bravas, 2013

o GeV Magazine: Cover Story and profile- fashion Spread, 2013

o Style SF Chronicle, Rolling with the Stones: Art Collectors Norah and Norman Stone, 2012

o Women’s Wear Daily, “Silicon Valley Meets Art at Techstyle Softwear Show”; 2010

o SFis Cover Story; Modern Butterfly; A Couturier spreads her wings, Quens New Look takes Flight; November 2010

o San Francisco Magazine, “Best of the Bay”, Couture Designer; 2008

o Four Seasons Magazine, profile on Colleen Quen and Atelier; Winter Issue 2007

o Out Magazine, “Paris Hilton Cover Story “ Paris Hilton Defines Hot”, 2006

o Forbes Magazine (US), “The Fashion Outsiders”, editorial interview, “Saketini” dress; 2006

o FashionWireDaily.com, “SF Fashion Week”, interview; 2006 and 2005

o World China Newspaper, “Fashion and Furniture” profile with Rick Lee and Colleen Quen; 2005

o Paper City Magazine, “Rick Lee and Colleen Quen Create a Monsoon”, full page profile; 2003

o International Herald Tribune, “Freedom To Be Fanciful”, interview; 2001

o San Francisco Chronicle Magazine, “Quen the Fashion Queen”, profile; 2000

Select Newspaper/Internet/Magazine

o Vision Magazine (China), red “Georgia O'Keefe” gown; 2007

o Flair Magazine (Italy), “Calatrava” gown; 2007

o Marie Claire Magazine (US), “Saketini” dress; 2006

o British Brides Magazine, "Flight of Fancy", editorial, “Madame Butterfly” wedding gown; 2006

o Glamour Magazine (New York), Paris Hilton wearing “Pineappletini” dress; 2006

o Mode Magazine (Germany), editorial, Bai Ling wearing “Feather” coat; 2005

o Suede Magazine, “Tyra on the Top”, “Tequila Sunrise” gown; 2005

o Los Angeles Times, "California Does Washington in Style", FIDM Inaugural Fashion Show, “Van Gogh” ball gown; 2005/2004

o VogueParis.com, “SF Fashion Week”, “Manhattan” dress; 2004

Publications

Shanghai Museum of Modern Art, “Shanghai Biennale 2008”, "Butterfly Dream"; 2008

Select Celebrities Gowns

Jennifer Newsom, First Lady (Los Angeles); 2010

Natalia Markarova (SF Fashion Week); 2007

Melissa Rivers (Grammy Awards); 2006

Deborah Gibson (38th Annual Academy of Magical Arts Awards); 2006

Tyra Banks (The Tyra Banks Show and NY Daytime Emmy Awards); 2005

Filippa Giordano (opera performance); 2005

Drew Jacoby (Prima Ballerina, The Princess Grace Awards NY); 2005

Macy Gray (Grammy Awards); 2005

Geena Davis (Inaugural Ball); 2005

Kelly Carlson (“Head Cases”); 2005

Vivica A. Fox (100th Anniversary Perrier Jouet); 2002

Select Community Services

o San Francisco Symphony Black and White Ball, Fashion Designer; 2010

o Discarded to Divine Fundraiser Opening, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul, San Francisco; 2010 and 2008

o Asian Art Museum

--"Power and Glory Court: Arts of China's Ming Dynasty", Fashion Exhibit; 2008

--"Saving Asia's Treasures"; 2004 and 2003

o San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival’s 30th Anniversary, Fashion Auction; 2008 and 2009

o Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Fashion Show; 2007, 2006 and 2005

o Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fashion Show, Kneedler Fauchere Fabric, Fashion Auction, "Couture for the Cure", San Francisco; 2007, 2005 and 2003

o 50th Anniversary Girls Town of Italy, Guest Designer Fashion Show, The Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco; 2005

o The Webby Awards, “Five Elements of Fashion”, Legion of Honor Museum, San Francisco; 2004

o The San Francisco Opera Guild, "Saluting SF Opera's 81st Season", The Fairmont Hotel; 2003

Retailers

o LeeQuen Atelier, Couture Collection, San Francisco; 2000-2012

o Bloomingdales, Guest Designer Trunk Show, San Francisco; 2006

o Marina Morrison Bridal, Wedding Collection, San Francisco; 2003-2004

o Kleinfeld's, Wedding Collection, New York; 2004

o 30 Vandam, Ready-to-Wear Women's Collection, New York; 2003-2004

Memberships

o Fashion Group International, San Francisco and New York; 2001 to 2009

o San Francisco Opera Guild Board Member, San Francisco; 2001 to present

o San Francisco Symphony Board Member, San Francisco; 2003 to present

o GenArts Fashion Design Alumni, San Francisco and New York; 2002 to present

o Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising Alumni, San Francisco and Los Angeles; 1986 to present

Education

o Certificate, Simmons School of French Dress Designing and Patternmaking, San Francisco; 1993-1996

o Associate of Arts, The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, San Francisco, CA, Honor Roll, 1985-1986

o Courses in Business and Computer Software Engineering , California State University, Hayward; 1980-1985