Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty Comes To London

In partnership with Swarovski
Supported by American Express
14 March - 19 July 2015
www.vam.ac.uk/savagebeauty | @V_and_A #SavageBeauty

"London's where I was brought up. It's where my heart is and where I get my inspiration."- Alexander McQueen, January 2000

The V&A is delighted to announce that it will present Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty in London in spring 2015. The first and largest retrospective of the late designer's work to be presented in Europe, the exhibition will showcase McQueen's visionary body of work. Spanning his 1992 MA graduate collection to his unfinished A/W 2010 collection, McQueen's designs will be presented with the dramatic staging and sense of spectacle synonymous with his runway shows.

The original version of Savage Beauty at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York in 2011 was organised by the Costume Institute and became one of the Museum's top 10 most visited exhibitions. Tickets to the V&A's exhibition go on sale at 10:00 on 25 April 2014.

Martin Roth, V&A Director, said: "I am thrilled to announce that the V&A will bring this wonderful exhibition to London to celebrate the extraordinary creative talent of one of the most innovative designers of recent times. Lee Alexander McQueen was brought up in London, studied here and based his globally successful McQueen fashion brand here - by staging the exhibition at the V&A it feels like we are bringing his work home."

Sarah Burton, Creative Director Alexander McQueen, said: "Savage Beauty is a celebration of the most imaginative and talented designer of our time. Lee was a genius and a true visionary who pushed boundaries, challenged and inspired. He believed in creativity and innovation and his talent was limitless."

The V&A's presentation of the exhibition is being made possible with the cooperation of Alexander McQueen and will be in partnership with Swarovski, and supported by American Express.

Nadja Swarovski, Member of the Swarovski Executive Board, said: "We are honoured to support this landmark exhibition celebrating the creative genius of Alexander McQueen at one of our most distinguished cultural institutions. We were privileged to collaborate creatively with McQueen since 1998 in both fashion and design, and Savage Beauty is an eloquent tribute to the scale of his talent and to his limitless imagination, which conjured looks that were sometimes wild and challenging, but always exquisitely crafted, and always beautiful."

Lisa Gregg, Vice President of Consumer Products & Experiences, American Express, said: "We are delighted to be a part of this unique retrospective. Our support of Alexander McQueen spans many years over which time we had the privilege of supporting his meteoric rise from cutting edge British designer to global household name. As one of the sponsors of the 2011 New York debut of Savage Beauty, we are particularly excited about the homecoming of this truly special and inspirational exhibition."

- ENDS -

Notes to Editors

Ticket Information
Tickets go on sale at 10:00 on 25 April 2014
Admission £16 (concessions available)
V&A Members go free
Advance booking is advised - this can be done in person at the V&A; online at www.vam.ac.uk/savagebeauty; or by calling 020 7420 9736 (booking fee applies)

• The exhibition is being curated by Claire Wilcox, Senior Curator of Fashion, V&A and Professor in Fashion Curation, London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London
• The exhibition is based on Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, an exhibition organised by the Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011
• Andrew Bolton, Curator of the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York is Consultant Curator and was Curator of the original exhibition
• Samantha Gainsbury of Gainsbury & Whiting is the Exhibition Creative Director (Alexander McQueen) and was Creative Director of the original exhibition

Corporate support for the V&A is more vital than ever. Please help us by acknowledging the exhibition sponsors Swarovski and American Express.

About Swarovski

The crystal house and Alexander McQueen share a rich history, beginning in the 1990s when Isabella Blow introduced the young maverick designer to Nadja Swarovski. Swarovski went on to support McQueen's Spring/Summer 1999 collection, which was to be the first of numerous collaborations, including the creation, alongside Tord Boontje, of the V&A's Grand Entrance crystal Christmas tree in 2003; and the dramatic Swarovski gemstone-encrusted Bird's Nest and Bird Skull headdresses for his Autumn/Winter 2006 collection. Swarovski has worked hand-in-hand with the great couturiers since 1900, when founder Daniel Swarovski's precision-cut stones became highly prized ingredients in the dressmaking ateliers of Paris.

Founded in 1895 in Austria, Swarovski Crystal Business designs, manufactures and sells crystals, natural and created gemstones, and finished products such as jewellery, accessories and lighting.
Swarovskigroup.com | Swarovski on Facebook | @swarovski on Twitter

About American Express
The Company's partnership with McQueen began in 1997 and went from supporting his early runway shows in London and Paris to the creation of several limited edition cards, including the first ever 'Haute Couture' Gold Card containing real gold leaf. American Express collaborated with McQueen in 2004 on 'Black', a unique, one-off event, inspired by the black Centurion Card which saw him show in London for the first time in years.

American Express is a global service company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Americanexpress.co.uk | AmericanExpressUK on Facebook | @AmexUK on Twitter

In partnership with Swarovski

Supported by American Express

Press Contact:

For further PRESS information about the V&A exhibition Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty please contact the V&A press office on 020 7942 2500/02 or email press.office@vam.ac.uk

A selection of press images is available to download free of charge from http://pressimages.vam.ac.uk