Paul Tazewell, the costume designer behind Wicked, has made history as the first Black man to win the Oscar for best costume design.
At Sunday night’s ceremony, Tazewell claimed the trophy for his work on Wicked, beating out Arianne Phillips (A Complete Unknown), Linda Muir (Nosferatu), Lisy Christl (Conclave) and Janty Yates and David Crossman (Gladiator II). Tazewell becomes the second Black person ever to win in this category, following Ruth E. Carter who broke ground with her win for Black Panther.
Tazewell was previously nominated in this category for his work on West Side Story. He’s been dominating award season this year, picking up prizes at the BAFTA, Critics Choice, and Costume Designers Guild.
For Wicked, Tazewell crafted more than a thousand costumes, drawing inspiration from the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz. Among his most celebrated designs are Glinda’s bubble dress and Elphaba’s black dress.
