Produced and curated by Barrett Barrera Projects, “Ann Ray & Lee McQueen: Rendez-Vous” explores the 13-year friendship and intimate creative collaboration between the late British designer Lee Alexander McQueen and French photographer Ann Ray (otherwise known as Anne Deniau), whom McQueen personally selected to document his design process and the behind-the-scenes experience of his runway shows.

The exhibition, which reopens on July 9 at projects+exhibitions (4568 Manchester Ave. in St. Louis), features photographs taken by Ray, reflecting her unique relationship with McQueen between the years of 1997 and 2010, alongside garments McQueen gifted to her over the course of their work together. The exhibition also features more than two dozen spectacular McQueen pieces from Barrett Barrera Projects’ collection, the largest private collection of McQueen’s work.

In conjunction with the reopening of “Ann Ray & Lee McQueen: Rendez-Vous,” a new exhibition titled “Introducing Lee Alexander McQueen”debuts on July 9 at Barrett Barrera Projects (4738 McPherson Ave. in St. Louis). Along with garments that span McQueen’s entire career, the exhibition features hand-drawn garment sketches and patterns (1995-96), as well as invitations, programs and other ephemera from his early runway shows – including “The Hunger,” “Bellmer La Poupée” and “Dante.” On the whole, “Introducing Lee Alexander McQueen” explores the designer’s ability to blend exquisite craftsmanship with intimate and imaginative storytelling, taking the viewer along on the journey from the naissance of a design concept to the final stitch.

Read the full article on Gazelle Magazine.