A group of black, white and blue painted wooden figures displayed against a blue background.

Lesley Barnes and Ross McAuley: Fashion Play

– Upper Space, YSP Centre

About Lesley Barnes and Ross McAuley: Fashion Play

During summer 2025, visitors were invited to step inside the colourful world of Fashion Play – a bold, playful display of wooden dancers and figurative mobiles in the Upper Space.

Fashion Play featured an expressive collection of beautifully designed, handmade wooden figures celebrating movement and form, inspired by Barnes’ own recent book of the same name. These fashionable characters are joyfully dressed in extravagant headdresses, bulbous skirts, and oversized sleeves.

As well as new sculptural works and illustrative prints, the exhibition featured large-scale figurative mobiles, vinyl illustrations and fabric hangings, printed at the internationally renowned Glasgow School of Art.

The exhibition included 33 beautifully designed, handmade wooden sculptures and six mobiles with perfectly contrasting colours, spots and stripes. The one-of-a-kind artworks were all for sale, with prices ranging from £250 to £850. A selection of sustainably sourced pin badges, imaginative magnets, sticker sets and a limited edition print was also available to purchase from YSP Shops.

YSP is a registered charity. All proceeds from sales supports the artists and YSP.

  • A vibrant display of stylised figurines in bold colours and patterns, set against a bright blue wall with black and white stripes. The figures feature exaggerated shapes and playful designs, creating a striking visual contrast.
  • A woman with blue hair leans towards a display of colourful, abstract sculptures on a table. The background features a vibrant blue wall adorned with geometric patterns in red, black, and white, alongside a framed artwork.
  • A vibrant display of three abstract wooden sculptures in red, pink, and black, set against a bright blue wall adorned with geometric patterns and circular designs in black, white, and blue. The sculptures feature varied shapes and heights, creating a playful aesthetic.

Living and working in Glasgow, Barnes is an illustrator and her distinctive, bright and joyful work spans the worlds of fashion, music, children’s literature, film and product design. She has worked with clients such as The Hepworth Wakefield, Tate, V&A, Apple, Google, The New Yorker and New York Times.

Also based in Glasgow, McAuley is a Canadian painter whose work has been exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, the Royal Scottish Academy and Glasgow Print Studio among others.

The exhibition was inspired by Barnes’ most recent book, Fashion Play (Counter-Print Books, 2024), an interactive publication for lovers of fashion, colour and pattern. The book is divided into three sections, allowing readers to playfully mix and match outfits, creating an endless fashion playground.

Vinyl signage for Fashion Play is generously supported by ashleigh.

  • A series of colourful figurative mobiles displayed in a shop window.
  • A vibrant exhibition space featuring bold blue walls adorned with black and white geometric patterns. Colourful wooden figures in various shapes and sizes are displayed on multi-coloured pedestals, creating a playful and dynamic atmosphere.
  • A display of four colourful graphic wall hangings against a white wall. In the centre is a set of shelves filled with copies of the book Fashion Play.

Exhibition Accessibility

The exhibition is located in the Upper Space, concourse, and staircase at YSP Centre. The Upper Space can be accessed by staircase or lift, located at either end of YSP Centre, and has flat access throughout. The works displayed on the staircase are not wheelchair accessible.

Look out for colourful props in the gallery space and YSP Centre concourse, ideal for photo opportunities.

Two colourful patterned standees with holes for visitors to put their faces through. They are displayed in a bright room with a window behind them.

Fashion Play Products

Browse the Fashion Play collection at YSP Shop.

  1. Lesley Barnes: Fashion Play Screen Print

    £195.00
    More info

  2. Lesley Barnes: A5 Sticker Set

    £2.40
    More info

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