Gary James McQueen

GARY JAMES MCQUEEN (London, 1979).
“Savage Beauty,” 2022.
Three-dimensional lenticular print with a transition effect.
Signed and inscribed on the back: “To Debbie from Gary James McQueen.”
Print no. 1/20.
Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by the artist and numbered 1/20.
Provenance: private collection, Qatar.
Steel frame.
Measurements: 121.92 x 152.4 cm.

"Savage Beauty" is one of the most iconic images in Gary James McQueen’s career, closely linked to the legacy of his uncle, the renowned designer Alexander McQueen. Originally conceived as a collaboration between the two, the work gained significant international recognition when it appeared on the lenticular cover of the catalog for the historic exhibition “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty,” held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York in 2011 and subsequently presented at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in 2015.

The work combines a photographic portrait of Alexander McQueen, taken by the artist himself in 2008, with a golden skull digitally created from images of London’s Tower Bridge. Thanks to lenticular technology, both images gradually transform depending on the viewer’s angle of vision, creating a metamorphosis between the face and the image of death. The three-dimensional effect and intense light hallmarks accentuate the unsettling nature of the composition, which revisits the tradition of the vanitas through a contemporary aesthetic. The skull, a recurring motif in McQueen’s creative universe, becomes a reflection on the transience of life, identity, and the permanence of artistic legacy. This edition, limited to twenty copies, elevates this iconic image to a monumental scale.

Gary James McQueen spent part of his professional career at Alexander McQueen, where he worked in textile design and pattern creation. Following his uncle’s death in 2010, he embarked on an independent artistic career focused on digital creation and lenticular images. His work combines technology, neo-Gothic imagery, and references to the world of fashion, and has gained international recognition through exhibitions and artistic collaborations. His work has gained international recognition through institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum, as well as through exhibitions at galleries such as West Chelsea Contemporary in New York.