Exhibition Archive

Yves Saint Laurent
November 1, 2008 – April 5, 2009
de Young Museum, Textile Gallery

“His life is a legend,” wrote Bernard-Henri Levy in 1986, “His name is an empire.” Undeniably one of the most influential fashion designers of the second half of the 20th century, Yves Saint Laurent is famed for having revolutionized the haute couture tradition and developed a new wardrobe from the modern, emancipated woman. In collaboration with Fondation Pierre-Berge-Yves Saint Laurent and the Montreal Museum of Art, this exhibition will be the first retrospective of Yves Saint Laurent’s work in over twenty-five years. A look at Saint Laurent’s entire career—from the first collection he produced after founding his own fashion house in 1962 to his final show in 2002—provides the opportunity to reveal his creative approach. The exhibition will feature approximately 130 looks, as well as the artist’s original drawings and videos from the archives of the Fondation Pierre-Berge-Yves Saint Laurent.