Moore, (Charles) Gene, 1910-

Photographer and display, exhibition, and stage designer. Born Birmingham, Alabama, June 10, 1910. Although Moore studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Chicago, he was mainly self-taught in design. His first display job was with I. Miller in New York from 1936-38. Moore became a display assistant at Bergdorf Goodman in New York in 1938.

He then became display manager at Bonwit Teller in New York in 1945, where he frequently collaborated with well-known artists of the Pop Art movement including Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Robert Raushenberg, and others.

During this time, the profession of window display was gaining acceptance with the work of Moore and his contemporaries Henry F. Callahan at Lord & Taylor, Sidney Ring at Saks Fifth Avenue, and John R. Foley at Macy's among others.

Moore is best known for his highly acclaimed work as Display Manager and Vice President at Tiffany and Company, where he created innovative, imaginative window displays for almost 40 years, from 1955 to 1994, and was given cart blanche to create whatever he wanted.

Walter Hoving, Chairman of the Board of Tiffany, charged Moore with the following mission: "I want you to make our windows as beautiful as you can according to your own taste ... Above all, don't try to sell anything; we'll take care of that in the store." His designs were famous for combining and juxtaposing common, everyday objects with exquisite pieces of fine jewelry.

From the description of Gene Moore photographs, 1955-1994. (Smithsonian Institution Libraries). WorldCat record id: 39128834