Alexander McQueen and Francesca Woodman: Parallels in Metamorphosis and Body Transformation
Despite their distinct artistic mediums, Alexander McQueen and Francesca Woodman, both of whom tragically took their own lives—McQueen at the age of 40 in 2010 and Woodman at 22 in 1981—exhibit thematic parallels. Their posthumous recognition is underscored by McQueen's "Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty" exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2011 and Woodman's inaugural American retrospective at SFMOMA, which ran from November 5, 2011, to February 20, 2012. Both artists delved into themes of transformation and the female form through their unique self-expressions. Woodman's striking black-and-white self-portraits, such as "Untitled, New York, 1979-1980," stand in contrast to McQueen's 1998 "Spine" corset, as both tackle issues of identity, gender, and vulnerability.
Key facts
- Alexander McQueen died by suicide in 2010 at age 40.
- Francesca Woodman died by suicide in 1981 at age 22.
- McQueen's exhibition "Savage Beauty" was at The Metropolitan Museum of Art from May 4 to August 7, 2011.
- Woodman's first American retrospective is at SFMOMA from November 5, 2011, to February 20, 2012.
- Woodman's work will also be shown at The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum from March 16 to June 13, 2012.
- Both artists explore metamorphosis and the female body in their work.
- McQueen trained on Savile Row and with theatrical costumiers.
- Woodman studied at RISD and spent time in Florence and Rome.
Entities
Artists
- Alexander McQueen
- Francesca Woodman
- C. Scott Willis
- Isabella Blow
- Ingmar Bergman
- Breughel
- Adele Tutter
- Rebecca Park
Institutions
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- SFMOMA
- The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- RISD
- Savile Row
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- Artcritical
Locations
- New York
- San Francisco
- Florence
- Italy
- Rome
- United States