What’s on at V&A South Kensington this summer 2024
This summer, the V&A Museum in London has an exciting lineup of exhibitions. Highlights include a tribute to fashion icon Naomi Campbell, an exploration of pop star Taylor Swift's fashion journey, and a showcase of Sir Elton John and David Furnish's photography collection. Here's your guide to the art exhibitions at the V&A Museum in South Kensington for Summer 2024.
Taylor Swift: Songbook Trail
Image still from willow music video, 2020. Courtesy of TAS Rights Management, LLC.
#FLODown: An exhibition dedicated to pop star Taylor Swift will be on display at V&A South Kensington in July. Featuring 16 iconic looks from her personal collection, the free exhibition vividly traces Swift's fashion evolution from her early days in country music to her global pop sensation status.Curated displays showcase the interplay between Swift's costumes and the V&A's rich collections, offering a compelling exploration of her creative journey and cultural influence. Click here for more.
Date: 27 July 2024 - 8 September 2024. Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL. Price: Free. vam.ac.uk.
Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence
Unity Hall, KNUST, Kumasi by John Owuso Addo and Miro Marasović - film still from Tropical Modernism_ Architecture and Independence, © Victoria and Albert Museum, London.jpegUnity Hall, KNUST, Kumasi by John Owuso Addo and Miro Marasović.
#FLODown: Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence examines the style pioneered by Maxwell Fry and Jane Drew in post-World War II West Africa and India. Stemming from British colonial influence, this minimalist architectural approach, tailored for tropical climates, became a symbol of progress and cultural independence for newly liberated nations.
Date: 2 March – 22 September 2024. Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL. Price: from £14. Book now.
Naomi: In Fashion
NAOMI is at the V&A, 22 June 2024 – 6 April 2025. Photographer Marco Bahler.
#FLODown: NAOMI: In Fashion celebrates Naomi Campbell's extraordinary 40-year career with over 100 iconic outfits. Highlights include her look from Sarah Burton's Alexander McQueen show, the pink Valentino ensemble worn at the 2019 Met Gala, and the infamous Vivienne Westwood platform shoes from her memorable 1993 catwalk mishap. The exhibition features designs by Versace, Anna Sui, Azzedine Alaïa, Burberry, Chanel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Yves Saint Laurent, offering insights into Campbell's early career, activism, and support for emerging creatives, alongside striking fashion photography.
Click here for a visual preview.
Date: 22 June 2024 - 6 April 2025. Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL. Price: £18. Concessions available. Book now.
Click here for more fashion exhibitions to see in London right now.
Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection
David LaChapelle, Elton John, Egg On His Face, New York, 1999 © David LaChapelle.
#FLODown: Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection features over 300 rare prints from modern and contemporary photography. Spanning from the 1950s onwards, the exhibition showcases works by Nan Goldin, Robert Mapplethorpe, Cindy Sherman, and others. It explores themes such as fashion, celebrity, and significant historical moments like the Civil Rights movement and AIDS activism. The collection includes intimate portraits of icons like Marilyn Monroe and Aretha Franklin, celebrating both poignant and uplifting moments in time, alongside images of gay joy and resilience.
Click here for a visual preview.
Date: 18 May 2024 - 5 January 2025. Location: V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL. Price: From £20. Concessions available. Under 12s Free. Book now.
Global cinema platform MUBI and intersectional feminist publication Polyester kicked off Halloween week with a hauntingly glamorous launch event for the much-anticipated body-horror film The Substance at The Standard.