Eighth R.L. Shep Triennial Symposium: Lee Alexander McQueen | In Conversation with John Matheson

In conjunction with the exhibition Lee Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse, renowned scholars and artists explore imagination, artistic process, and innovation in fashion and art to further examine the interdisciplinary impulse that defined McQueen’s career, legacy, and sources of inspiration for the Eighth R.L. Shep Triennial Symposium on Textiles and Dress. One of the most significant contributors to fashion between 1990 and 2010, Lee Alexander McQueen (London, 1969–2010) was both a conceptual and technical virtuoso. His critically acclaimed collections synthesized the designer’s proficiency in tailoring and dressmaking with both encyclopedic and autobiographical references that spanned time, geography, media, and technology. The first McQueen exhibition on the West Coast, Mind, Mythos, Muse contextualizes the designer’s imaginative work within a canon of artmakers who drew upon analogous themes and visual references. In response to the global pandemic, the Eighth R.L. Shep Triennial Symposium is presented on YouTube as a free video series, released from May through August 2022 on the last Tuesday of each month. Writer, fashion archivist, and creator of the acclaimed Instagram account McQueen Vault, John Matheson discusses the life and legacy of Lee Alexander McQueen in conversation with Mind, Mythos, Muse co-curators Clarissa M. Esguerra and Michaela Hansen. Serving as a consultant and expert on McQueen for the exhibition, Matheson explores recurring themes in McQuee