Six renowned Paris museums will hold simultaneous exhibitions to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Yves Saint Laurent’s first collection, in an unprecedented tribute from the art world to the late French fashion designer. The activities, which will take place in museums including the Louver and the Musée d’Orsay, will illustrate how the famed couturier was influenced by some of the greatest artists of the twentieth century, including Picasso, Matisse, and Mondrian.
The participation of some of France’s largest and most recognized institutions, according to Mouna Mekouar, who arranged the multi-center event that will feature the designer’s work presented in the context of each establishment’s permanent collections, is unprecedented.
“I believed it would be hard to persuade so many museums to agree to our plan, yet they were all immediately intrigued and excited.” It’s the first time they’ve all collaborated on a single project,” Mekouar explained.
“Art inspired Saint Laurent, and this display demonstrates the connections and discussion between his work and the museum exhibits. We didn’t want to store the clothing in a room; instead, we wanted them to be shown with the permanent collections. On January 29, 1962, Yves Saint Laurent held his debut haute couture show.
“I believe a couturier’s work is extremely similar to that of an artist. In reality, I’ve always been inspired by the work of contemporary painters like Picasso, Matisse, and Mondrian,” Saint Laurent subsequently revealed.
“I owe my July 1966 collection to American painters like Wesselman and Roy Lichtenstein, who have always affected me.” “Landscapes, moonlight, and sunlight lighted all of my costumes,” he continued.