Wes Anderson's first ever retrospective exhibition is coming to the Design Museum in London in 2025 and it's going to be HUGE!
The show will deep-dive into the acclaimed filmmaker and director's career, and will follow the evolution of his films from his first experiments in the 1990s, right up to his most recent, Oscar-winning frescoes.
(That Oscar was awarded for his short film The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar in 2024, a 39-minute adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1977 story of the same name. It scooped the Best Live Action Short Film Academy Award. But Anderson has been nominated for seven other Oscars over the past 22 years.)
Each Wes Anderson picture plunges the viewer into a world with its own codes, motifs, references, and sumptuous and instantly recognisable sets and costumes.
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Wes Anderson exhibition will explore inspirations and craftsmanship
It's these incredible worlds that the London exhibition will invite visitors to experience and discover.
In fact it'll be the very first time museum visitors will have the opportunity to delve into the art of his complete filmography. It'll be a show that examines Anderson's inspirations, homages, and the meticulous craftsmanship that define his work.
From the melancholic charm of The Royal Tenenbaums to the youthful adventure of Moonrise Kingdom, the Design Museum hopes people will discover how Anderson's unique vision and dedication to detail have created some of the most visually and emotionally compelling films of recent times.
And of course, there'll be a detour to the Grand Budapest Hotel too!
Through a curated collection of original props, costumes, and behind-the-scenes insights, including from his personal collection, this exhibition will offer an unprecedented look into the world of Wes Anderson, celebrating his enduring influence on contemporary cinema.
The only problem? There's quite a while to wait.
The show doesn't open until November 2025. Which also means there are no details on ticket prices or a confirmation of when tickets will go on sale.
The only certainty is that it will be popular — so pre-booking will be MASSIVELY recommended.
But, if you can't wait AND you're a film buff then you're in luck. Because with much less time to wait is the Design Museum's blockbuster exhibition on the work and career of film maker Tim Burton. That show — which features the first ever public display of Jenna Ortega's viral Wednesday Adams prom dress — opens on 23 October 2024 and runs until April 2025.
Wes Anderson — produced in collaboration with la Cinémathèque française and in partnership with Wes Anderson and American Empirical Pictures — opens at the Design Museum in London on 21 November 2025 and will run until 04 May 2026.