SAINT LOUIS, MO.- The Saint Louis Art Museum presents The Hats of Stephen Jones, a special installation of eight hats designed by one of the world’s best-known contemporary milliners. The hats have been installed as gallery interventions throughout the museum from April 21 through Sept. 4.

A British artist, Jones came to prominence in the 1980s with avant-garde designs that also engaged closely with artistic tradition. Jones’ hats have been worn by some of the world’s biggest stars and fashion icons from Lady Gaga to Princess Diana. In 2009, the Victoria and Albert Museum highlighted his designs in the exhibition Hats: An Anthology by Stephen Jones.

In St. Louis, Jones-designed hats have been interspersed throughout the galleries to dialogue with specific works in the permanent collection. The installation complements Degas, Impressionism, and the Paris Millinery Trade, the first exhibition to examine the height of the Paris hat trade, as reflected in the work of the Impressionists.

The Hats of Stephen Jones is co-curated by Simon Kelly, curator of modern and contemporary art, and Zoe Perkins, textile conservator.

Jones will discuss the inspiration for his designs and their connections to the history of hats and art at a lecture on Sunday, April 23 at 2 pm in the museum’s Farrell Auditorium. The lecture will be followed by a conversation with New York-based milliner Jennifer Ouellette. Tickets are $25, or $20 for museum members. Starting April 6, tickets can be purchased at the Museum or through Metrotix, which charges a processing fee.