Gary James McQueen — found at the intersection of fine art, innovative technology, and high fashion — constructs the unexpected, weaving gilded worlds of dark, fantastical beauty. Within this exhibition, West Chelsea Contemporary affords visitors the opportunity to step into the macabre and romantic realm of GARY JAMES McQUEEN. Presenting nineteen new artworks — and situated within his exhaustive body of work — GARY JAMES McQUEEN is the artist’s first exhibition in the United States. These artworks pay homage to Gary James McQueen’s rich history and significant contributions to the world of fashion, highlighting the formative relationship between the artist and his late uncle, renowned fashion icon Alexander “Lee” McQueen.

At the root of Gary James McQueen’s body of work is a love for world-building, storytelling, and illuminating beauty in the mystical. Mentored at a young age by Lee, the pair would often watch the latest horror films — from An American Werewolf in London to The Howling and Legend — transporting Gary James McQueen to fantastical worlds. After their viewings, the pair would sketch out ideas for characters, stories, and places. “These films drove my imagination from a young age” Gary James McQueen explains “Watching these fantasy films with Lee helped me understand how I could create my own worlds.”
Gary James McQueen’s first professional roles taught him the principles of design. Bringing experience in both print production and digital illustration, he joined the house of McQueen in 2005 as a textile designer in the menswear division. Here, he worked closely with his uncle and experimented with the application of artwork to the silhouette of clothing. Appointed the Head Textile Designer, Gary James McQueen became known for his optical-illusion textile design and continued to push the boundaries of what could be achieved with a 3D canvas.

After the passing of Alexander McQueen in 2010, Gary James McQueen created his iconic chrome skull artwork, aptly named Savage Beauty, which became the face of the groundbreaking exhibition that traveled to both the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Victoria & Albert Museum in London. Compelled to continue his uncle’s legacy, Gary James McQueen established his own brand, which encapsulates the McQueen spirit. Through his brand, the artist designed the cover for the Alexander McQueen documentary, released Guiding Light — a first of its kind digital fashion show — and partnered with technology giant Epic Games. He continues to push the boundaries of digital innovation from immersive multimedia and real time rendering to digital sculpting and 3D printing. Featured in London’s Digital Design Week at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Gary James McQueen continues to find new outlets for demonstration and creation.

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail and a powerful artistic vision, each work in GARY JAMES McQUEEN invites viewers into a world of its own. Displayed together these works create the world of Gary James McQueen — a world overflowing with lavish florals, gilded frameworks, and exquisite textures. In a collision of pioneering technology and traditional artistic values, the artist’s new body of work explores themes of the mystical, macabre, and romantic while highlighting the connection between humans and nature.

West Chelsea Contemporary is proud to present, for the first time, Gary James McQueen’s entire body of work. GARY JAMES McQUEEN is more than an exhibition; it is an exploration of artistic innovation, an homage to familial heritage, and an invitation to experience the extraordinary future of creative expression.

Visit West Chelsea Contemporary March 2nd through 24th at 1009 W 6th Street, #120 in Austin, TX and learn more at www.wcc.art.