V&A Museum to Feature Never-Before-Published Photos of Alexander McQueen by Ann Ray

Unfallen Angels II, 2009; Image: Courtesy of Ann Ray and the V&A

Ray was previously granted access to all areas by Lee himself to document his life via the art of photography. Armed with just a camera and absolutely no restricting guidelines, Ray snapped away at McQueen’s studio and behind the scenes at his runway shows.

The result? Ray, whose previous clients also include Cartier and Givenchy, captured around 35,000 pictures documenting the intense preparations that go into pulling off a successful collection and show. Most excitingly, she also managed to capture a selection of natural yet insightful photos of Lee himself throughout the entire process. The designer quite fittingly referred to it as “my life in pictures.”

Inside II; Image: Courtesy of Ann Ray and the V&A

The museum purchased four of the photos via the Cecil Beaton Fund and the rest were kindly donated by Ray, simply because she regarded McQueen as a close friend, and knowing that he was so fond of the V&A, believes that the photos will be at the right place.

It’s also quite exciting to learn that three of the acquired photos, Inside, 2000, Insensé, 1998 and Unfallen Angels II, 2009 have never actually been published before, and the V&A will also become the first museum in the world to include Ray’s photographs in a permanent collection.

Red Featherweight; Image: Courtesy of Ann Ray and the V&A


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