McQueen's fashion legacy celebrated in Nashville

Fashion visionary Lee Alexander McQueen is the subject of a new exhibit this summer at the Frist Art Museum .

Why it matters: McQueen, who died by suicide in 2010, is one of the most celebrated and influential fashion designers in recent history. The Frist exhibit gives Nashville fashionistas the opportunity to see his work up close while also offering a more personal glimpse of the man himself.

Zoom in: The exhibit presents McQueen's fashions alongside behind-the-scenes pictures taken by his friend, the French photographer Ann Ray.

• Ray's photographs, captured over 13 years, provide an intimate peek into McQueen's life and creative process, from the design studio to backstage at his famous runway shows.

By the numbers: The exhibit includes 60 fashion pieces, including ready-to-wear garments and haute couture.

• Ray selected 65 photos from her archive of more than 32,000 negatives.

What she's saying: Frist senior curator Katie Delmez tells Axios that pairing his work with Ray's photos gives the exhibit an emotional arc and more deeply explores pivotal and troubling times in McQueen's life.

• Delmez says the exhibit will help people "see McQueen more fully," going beyond the mythic figure he became to show moments of vulnerability and creativity.
• "The photos really bring McQueen to life."

The big picture: Fashion exhibitions are reliable hits at the Frist, Delmez says. They bring in people from all ages and backgrounds.

• Delmez hopes exhibit-goers will take in the other work on display at the museum.

"We know that McQueen is kind of the headliner, but there's a lot to see this summer," she says.

• "We love it when people can, you know, come away with unexpected experiences where they think they're coming to see one thing, but then they get introduced to something else."

If you go: The McQueen exhibit, "Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous," runs through Aug. 25. Tickets are available online or in person.