Columbia exhibit showcases the life and work of Alexander McQueen
Renegade. Revolutionary. Genius.
Lee Alexander McQueen, the man behind the provocative designs at Givenchy and his own label, is often described with such terms. A new exhibit at Columbia Museum of Art makes the case that he was not just a designer of garments but an artist, known for pushing beyond the runway to create visual and performance art.
“What’s important about Alexander McQueen is, he is an artist first, and his medium happens to be fashion,” says Joelle Ryan-Cook, deputy director at Columbia Museum of Art, which is presenting the exhibit Lee Alexander McQueen and Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous, October 7 through January 21.
“He created holistic art, and is known for creating these intense shows that had a unique vision and told stories,” she adds. “The fashion was one part of that.”
The exhibit is titled Rendez-Vous because it presents two artists combining their talents: McQueen, with his boundary-pushing designs, and Ann Ray, a French photographer and artist who has worked in fashion as well as for clients such as the Paris Opera and the Metropolitan Opera of New York.
McQueen and Ray became friends when both worked for Givenchy. She captured many of his most storied collections, including No. 13, his iconic show in which two robotic arms dramatically splattered model Shalom Harlow, and her flowing white dress, with paint.
The exhibit showcases dozens of garments designed by McQueen interspersed with behind-the-scenes photos by Ray.
“They were close,” Ryan-Cook says. “Ray had exclusive access behind the scenes. And she approached photographing McQueen from this place, not as a fashion photographer or a documentarian, but as someone who can tell an artistic story through photography. She’s an artist herself.”
McQueen passed away in 2010 at age 40, and Ryan-Cook says one of the most exciting aspects of the exhibit is getting a closer look at the finely crafted garments he created. Beyond the brash persona, “he was an incredible bespoke tailor, very concerned about fabrics that are full of texture and connection to nature. It’s so beautifully crafted.”
Ryan-Cook expects the unique exhibit to draw large crowds at the beginning and end of its run, but with timed tickets, museum-goers will have plenty of opportunity to get a close look at the exhibit’s blend of fashion, artistry, photography, and glamour.
“It shares a unique, intimate story, along with 58 outfits,” she says. “It’s something different than what’s been out there in the past. It has a beautiful exhibition design and is just a dramatic experience from start to finish.”
Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia, 803.799.2810, columbiamuseum.org
You Can Go
Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous
October 7 through January 21
Advance timed tickets: $15, free for museum members
Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St, Columbia, 803.799.2810, columbiamuseum.org
