THE MUSES OF JEAN PAUL GAULTIER

 

Exhibited at the Barbican Gallery, London

Text written by Thierry-Maxime Loriot, curator of the touring exhibition

 

 

“I am impressed by the way Annie Kevans captured the different types of beauties that have been my inspiration and my muses from my grandmother to artists like David Bowie and Boy George.”  Jean Paul Gaultier

 

British artist Annie Kevans has been commissioned by exhibition curator Thierry-Maxime Loriot to create a series of works for the exhibition The Fashion World of Jean Gaultier: From The Sidewalk To The Catwalk.  Exhibited for the first time at the Barbican Galleries, then to the National Galleries of Victoria in Melbourne and Galeries Nationales du Grand Palais in Paris. On Kevans’ new series, Loriot says: “Annie Kevans’ work caught my attention years ago when I saw her fantastic oil paintings ‘All The Presidents Girls’ at Volta in New York. As she is a great storyteller who works in series, I thought she was the best artist to create these eye-catching and delicate portraits that tell Gaultier’s story about his muses and inspirations, all great characters, these paintings translate well the humanist message in his work. I am delighted Kevans is now taking part in the exhibition tour."

 

The Muses are Nana, Jean Paul Gaultier’s grandmother, Agyness Deyn, Aitize Hanson, Amy Winehouse, Andrej Prejic, Anna Pawlowski, Beth Ditto, Boy George, Christine Bergstrom, David Bowie, Dita von Teese, Dominique Ermshwiller, Erin O'Connor, Farida Khelfa, Françis Menuge, Fredérique Lorca, Jade Parfitt, Jourdan Dunn, Karen Elson, Kate Moss, Kristen McMenamy, Kylie Minogue, Lily Cole, Madonna, Micheline Presle, Naomi Campbell, Rossy de Palma, Stella Tenant, Tanel and Tim Curry.