FRAGILE BEAUTY: PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE SIR ELTON JOHN AND DAVID FURNISH COLLECTION
This summer, the Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington presents "Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection," an extraordinary exhibition showcasing over 300 rare prints from 140 photographers. This exhibition, running from May 18, 2024, to January 5, 2025, is the V&A's largest temporary photography exhibition to date, and it promises an unparalleled journey through modern and contemporary photography.
An Unrivaled Collection
Selected from Sir Elton John and David Furnish's private collection of over 7,000 images, "Fragile Beauty" offers a deeply personal glimpse into the photographs that adorn their home. The exhibition covers a period from the 1950s to the present day, featuring iconic works by renowned photographers such as Robert Mapplethorpe, Nan Goldin, Cindy Sherman, William Eggleston, Diane Arbus, and Sally Mann. Each image reflects the delicate balance between strength and vulnerability inherent in the human experience.
Themes and Highlights
The exhibition is divided into eight thematic sections, exploring subjects such as fashion, reportage, celebrity, the male body, and American photography. Portraits of stars like Aretha Franklin, Elizabeth Taylor, The Beatles, and Chet Baker are juxtaposed with powerful images responding to themes of persecution, resistance, and pivotal moments in history. Highlights include three candid portraits of Marilyn Monroe taken between 1957 and 1962 by Richard Avedon, Eve Arnold, and Bert Stern, capturing the actress at the height of her fame.
Nan Goldin’s "Thanksgiving" series, displayed in its entirety for the first time, documents intimate and emotional moments from 1973 to 1999. David LaChapelle’s humorous portrait of Elton John with two eggs over his eyes (1999) and Sam Taylor-Johnson’s "Crying Men" series, featuring vulnerable portraits of Hollywood’s greatest male talents, offer unique insights into the intersection of art, celebrity, and personal narrative.
A Celebration of Passion
Curated by Duncan Forbes, Newell Harbin, and Lydia Caston, the exhibition not only celebrates John and Furnish’s passion for photography but also reflects their personal taste and unique eye as collectors. Their collection, built over 30 years, includes some of the very first acquisitions they made, such as fashion photographs by Horst P. Horst, Irving Penn, and Herb Ritts.
© Herb Ritts Foundation, Courtesy of Fahey Klein Gallery, Los Angeles
A Collaborative Effort
"Fragile Beauty" is part of an ongoing partnership between Sir Elton John and David Furnish and the V&A, which began with their support for the V&A’s Photography Centre in 2019. Their collaboration with the museum has grown significantly over the years, culminating in this epic exhibition that showcases some of the most beloved photographers and iconic images from their collection.
Discover More
Visitors to the V&A can immerse themselves in this breathtaking collection that spans the recent history of photography and celebrates the medium's power to reveal profound truths about the world. "Fragile Beauty" is not just an exhibition but a testament to the enduring influence of photography as an art form and the personal connections that these images foster in our lives.
For more information, visit the V&A website or contact Shannon Nash at s.nash@vam.ac.uk. Don't miss the chance to experience this extraordinary exhibition and witness the powerful stories captured through the lenses of the world's leading photographers.