He looks like a modern-day Andy Warhol gone fashionista with his thick-rimmed squarish glasses and intense, yet playful gaze. His nimble fingers artfully intermingle a variety of fabrics in unlikely combinations: leather, zippers, metal chains, and delicate chiffon. Denis Gagnon is a fashion virtuoso.
Futuristic and experimental by nature, his work transcends the scope of fashion, bleeding into the worlds of film, pop culture and fine art.
But after more than 15 years working in the biz, he is only now beginning to garner international recognition. Specially commissioned 2010 collections for Aldo and Bedo in 2011 led to increased popular exposure, and a documentary all about him, aptly entitled: Je M’appelle Denis Gagnon premiered at the Montreal Festival of Films on Art. In fall 2010 he became The first Quebec fashion designer ever to be honored with his own exhibition at Montreal’s Museum of Fine Arts. And just last week his 2011 Spring/Summer collection was the toast of the town at Montreal Fashion Week. Now, the question is: what’s next?
An Expose on Denis Gagnon at Montreal's Museum of Fine Arts