Victoria and Albert Museum

@vamuseum

The V&A is a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity.
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We’re delighted to share a first glimpse of the official poster for our major new exhibition, Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection. Today, in celebration of Elton’s birthday, we’re excited to share that Fragile Beauty will showcase over 300 rare prints from over 140 era-defining photographers, on loan from Elton and David’s personal collection. Spread across eight thematic sections of the 20th and 21st century, including fashion, reportage, celebrity, the male body, American photography, the Civil Rights movement and AIDS activism of the 1980s. With the majority of works being on display for the first time, Fragile Beauty’s unrivalled selection of the world’s leading photographers tells a personal and universal story of modern and contemporary photography. Opening at V&A South Kensington on 18 May 2024. In partnership with @gucci 🎟️ Book tickets now via the link in our bio. V&A Members visit free. © Harley Weir, Boys Don’t Cry, Senegal, 2015 - Model: Mamadou Ndoye
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3 days ago
First look at the official poster for NAOMI: In Fashion. Tickets on sale now - V&A members go free. ‌ Step inside the personal wardrobe of @Naomi Campbell and experience the garments and accessories that chronicle her 40 years in the spotlight. Discover works from designers including Alexander McQueen, Azzedine Alaïa, BOSS, Burberry, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Ize, Torishéju Dumi, Valentino, Virgil Abloh, Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent and many others. Visitors will also be able to indulge in a selection of fashion photography curated by Edward Enninful OBE and learn about Naomi’s activism & her on-going support of emerging creatives. NAOMI: In Fashion will run from 22 June 2024 – 6 April 2025. Supported by @BOSS ‌Tap the link in bio to buy tickets.
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15 days ago
Miniature worlds 🌍   Model making has been a cherished pastime for decades and its appeal has only grown with time.   From meticulously assembling each piece to delicately applying the final touches of paint, model making is a process that demands patience and precision.    Whether constructing iconic architectural marvels or magical LEGO landscapes, the art of model making brings imagination to life. Here’s just a selection of the some of the wondrous models in our collection. ⚡️Hogwarts Castle, first edition, LEGO 🎼Model of the Albert Hall, submitted to Queen Victoria by Sir Henry Cole and Richard Redgrave at Osbourne House, cardboard, wood and glass, Fowke Francis, 1864 👢Model boot, Annesley, ca. 1888-1890 🏛️Albert Memorial model, plaster coloured, gilded and polished, on metal armature, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, made by Farmer and Brindley, sculpture modelled by H.H. Armstead, paper mosaics by Antonio Salviati, England, ca. 1863   If you’re into model making, it’s in the V&A.
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6 hours ago
Lil Nas X with dazzling Versace ✨ Rapper, singer and songwriter @lilnasx hit the MTV Video Music Awards in 2021 with this purple silk number by Donatella Versace, featured in our DIVA exhibition. Paying homage to both Prince and Lil Kim’s purple jumpsuit in 1999, the ensemble features crystal embroidery and a show-stopping long train. Putting a spin on a traditional prom dress, in true Lil Nas X fashion. Supported by @netaporter With additional support from Tonwelt
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‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.’   William Morris was born #OnThisDay in 1834. Best known as the 19th century’s most celebrated designer, he was a key figure in the Arts & Crafts Movement and championed a principle of handmade production that didn’t chime with the Victorian era’s focus on industrial progress.   🌸Cray, furnishing fabric, 1884 🍓‘Strawberry Thief’, designed in 1883
🍋‘Fruit’, first issued in 1866
🪴‘Trellis’, designed in 1862
🌿‘Acanthus’, manufactured in 1875
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4 days ago
Our first Fashion in Motion of 2024 with @francesco_colucci_vm ✨ In our iconic Raphael Gallery last week, visual artist Francesco Colucci showcased his stunning designs alongside a dramatic live dressing of his muse, @diamondpeachlollipop . Known for curating the striking window dressings for @traid , as well as his work featuring in Vogue, Le Monde and with renowned photographer Tim Walker - Francesco constructs imaginative ensembles that experiment with textiles, volume and shape ❤️‍🔥
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5 days ago
The timeless charm of English Toby Jugs ✨🥹 Meet Bob Moores, (@bobmoores4 ) one of our official superfan advisors who stopped by V&A South Kensington to share a glimpse into his impressive Toby Jug collection. ‌ Originating in 18th-century England, these pottery jugs are shaped like a seated figure, typically wearing clothing from that period and often depicting jovial characters or historical figures. While they faded from popularity in the 1820s, Toby Jugs remain treasured collectibles globally. ‌ Whether it’s in a museum or in a bedroom, collections are important archives for future generations. ‌ If you’re into it, it’s in the V&A.
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6 days ago
‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ 🖼️ Picture books have been a lifelong passion for illustrator Kate Rolfe, who loves their ability to express ideas through just a few words and images. In ‘Navigating Dyslexia,’ she shares her personal journey with dyslexia, where letters become towering mountains and scary monsters. Through her illustrations, Kate hopes to make it easier for others to express how reading can feel like - and amidst the challenges, she wants everyone to know that words can be a playground of fun too! #NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek @katerolfeart was the Student Illustrator of the Year at the V&A Illustration Awards in 2020 📷: ‘Navigating Dyslexia’, Kate Rolfe, Cyanotype on paper, 2020-21
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All hail the McQueen. Celebrating one of our most inventive, beloved rule-breakers on what would have been his 55th birthday, Alexander McQueen was known for his highly original designs that married artistry with exceptional technical ability. Find out more about the art of Alexander McQueen in our bio. ▫️White ‘Angel’ dress with motif of sculptural angels woven into the brocade fabric of the bodice, A/W 2010 ▪️Evening gown, full length and one-shouldered, in a printed red and black silk, 2009. ▫️Dress from ‘Plato’s Atlantis’, digitally printed silk satin and silk chiffon, Britain, Spring/Summer 2010 ▪️Dress, one-shouldered bodice and asymmetrical skirt with underskirt of gilded feathers, designed in London, AW 2010-2011 ▫️Dress (known as the “Raffia Dress”), designed in Paris, made in Italy, 2000 ▪️Evening dress, black silk and hand-loomed jacquard, embroidered with gold sequins, Alexander McQueen, probably United Kingdom, A/W 2010
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Meet Pumpie the elephant! 🐘 Join our curator Will in our stores as we discover all about Pumpie’s life. Pumpie was made around 1900 and only has one eye and one ear, but was very well loved ❤️ Pumpie is dressed as a ship’s officer, but when off duty they also come with other outfits - like a blue dress and a kilt. Tell us in the comments about a toy that you loved as a child 🧸
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🎉NOW OPEN - Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence Explore how nations in West Africa and South Asia reclaimed Tropical Modernism following independence, and celebrate the architects who established the style as a symbol of a post-colonial future. Featuring an immersive film installation along with architectural models, drawings and archival ephemera, discover the key figures and moments of the Tropical Modernist movement.   Book tickets now - link in bio. Members go free.
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13 days ago
Pedalling through history 🚴‍♂️ ‌Bicycles are more than just a means of getting around, they're also a reflection of human progress and innovation. From the basic 19th-century penny-farthing to a 21st-century child’s first bicycle, they represent the ways design and technology have responded to societal change and the demands of urban living. ‌Take a spin through our collections and see how bicycles have shaped the daily human experience. 💍‌Helmet ring, acrylic and bronze with panels cut from bicycle safety reflectors. Designed and made by Peter Chang (1944-2017), Glasgow, Scotland, 2007 📸‌‘Disassembled Bicycle' photograph from the series 'Things Come Apart’, archival giclee print, 2013, edition of 100 ‌🚲Man with a penny-farthing bicycle, Keynes Family Album; Thirlwall J, 19th century 👶‌‘Wishbone 3-in-1 Original’, child's bicycle that can be formatted as a tricycle and as a balance bike. Designed by Wishbone Design Studio, Wellington, New Zealand, designed 2008, manufactured 2020-21 🚲‌'S-Works Power with Mirror’, 3D printed bicycle saddle designed for the female anatomy. Designed and manufactured by Specialized Bicycle Components, ca. 2020 💦‌‘Blood Sweat & Gears ‘poster advertising launch of Channel 4's televising of the Tour de France, created by advertising agency BMP 4, 1993 ‌If you’re into it, it’s in the V&A.
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14 days ago