Over the years, avid photography fans Elton John and David Furnish have amassed a collection of more than 7,000 images. Now, over 300 rare prints by 140 photographers have gone on show for the new V&A exhibition, ‘Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection’ (running until 5 January 2025).
David LaChapelle, Elton John, Egg On His Face, New York, 1999
Delve into Elton John and David Furnish’s photography collection
Spanning from 1950 to the present day, the London exhibition is divided into eight themes, from reportage and the male body to American photography and celebrity. Featured works from artists such as Carrie Mae Weems, Cindy Sherman, Robert Mapplethorpe and Diane Arbus are exhibited alongside fashion photography from Irving Penn, Horst P Horst and Herb Ritts.
Highlights of the collection, including intimate portraits of Marilyn Monroe taken during the later years of her life and Nan Goldin’s full, 149-image Thanksgiving series, nod to the juxtaposition of strength and beauty, a theme that runs throughout.
‘Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection’ is on show until 5 January 2025 at the V&A, London, vam.ac.uk
A version of this article appears in the June 2024 Travel Issue of Wallpaper*, available in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple News +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* today
Doris Day Poodles, April in Paris, 1950, by John Florea
Nan Goldin, Clemens, Jens and Nicolas Laughing at Le Pulp, Paris, 1999
-
At The Manner, New York has a highly fashionable new living roomThe Manner, a new hopsitality experience by Standard International in the heart of SoHo, triples up as a hotel, private residence, and members’ club
-
First look – Bottega Veneta and Flos release a special edition of the Model 600Gino Sarfatti’s fan favourite from 1966 is born again with Bottega Veneta’s signature treatments gracing its leather base
-
We stepped inside the Stedelijk Museum's newest addition in AmsterdamAmsterdam's Stedelijk Museum has unveiled its latest addition, the brand-new Don Quixote Sculpture Hall by Paul Cournet of Rotterdam creative agency Cloud
-
Meet Kenia Almaraz Murillo, the artist rethinking weavingKenia Almaraz Murillo draws on the new and the traditional in her exhibition 'Andean Cosmovision' at London's Waddington Custot
-
Inside Jack Whitten’s contribution to American contemporary artAs Jack Whitten exhibition ‘Speedchaser’ opens at Hauser & Wirth, London, and before a major retrospective at MoMA opens next year, we explore the American artist's impact
-
Doc'n Roll Film Festival makes its loud return to the UKThe 11th edition of the Doc'n Roll Film Festival celebrates music, culture and cinema from around the world
-
Preview the Jameel Prize exhibition, coming to London's V&A, with a focus on moving image and digital mediaThe winner of the V&A and Art Jameel’s seventh international award for contemporary art and design inspired by Islamic tradition will be showcased alongside shortlisted artists
-
Genesis Belanger is seduced by the real and the fake in LondonSculptor Genesis Belanger’s solo show, ‘In the Right Conditions We Are Indistinguishable’, is open at Pace, London
-
Francis Bacon at the National Portrait Gallery is an emotional tour de force‘Francis Bacon: Human Presence’ at the National Portrait Gallery in London puts the spotlight on Bacon's portraiture
-
Frieze Sculpture takes over Regent’s ParkTwenty-two international artists turn the English gardens into a dream-like landscape and remind us of our inextricable connection to the natural world
-
Meet Oluwole Omofemi and Bayo Akande, the founders creating a new art communityOluwole Omofemi and Bayo Akande, are behind Piece Unique, an artist agency that guides and future-proofs emerging artists’ careers
