Wes Anderson’s Archives Are Coming to London’s Design Museum

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In November, a significant exhibition titled “Wes Anderson’s Universe” is set to open at London’s Design Museum, showcasing over 600 items from Anderson’s extensive archive, including props, sets, costumes, and mature models. This will be the first major museum exhibition dedicated solely to Anderson’s work, with curators having been granted exceptional access to his meticulously maintained archives by the director himself.

Some of the items on display will include a massive model of the Grand Budapest Hotel, stretching three meters wide and used in the filming of the hotel’s facade for the 2014 movie. Additionally, highlights will feature vending machines from the upcoming Asteroid City (2023), stop motion puppets from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), and Gwyneth Paltrow’s Fendi coat from The Royal Tenenbaums (2001).

Visitors will also have the opportunity to view Anderson’s personal notebooks, which contain sketches and notes offering a glimpse into his unique creative process.

According to Lucia Savi, who is the Head of Curatorial and Interpretation at the Design Museum and a collaborator on the exhibition Wes Anderson: The Archives with Johanna Agerman Ross, every item featured in a Wes Anderson film holds deep personal significance for him; these objects aren’t just props but rather intricate works of art and design that contribute to the vivid, imaginative environments he creates.

Model of The Grand Budapest Hotel, Thierry Stefanopoulos
Max Fischer’s Rushmore Swiss Army knife, Roger Do Minh
Whitman brothers’ Suitcases from The Darjeeling Limited, Roger Do Minh
Wes Anderson’s personal notebooks from Fantastic. Mr. Fox, Roger Do Minh
The French Despatch magazines, Roger Do Minh
Wes Anderson, Charlie Gray

30 years ago, as per the Design Museum’s account, Anderson started gathering items from his films. This was prompted by the realization that the props from Bottle Rocket were being sold off by the film company. For his second feature film, Rushmore, he took special care to ensure each handcrafted item was documented and preserved. This meticulous approach has led him to accumulate thousands of objects over the years. The Design Museum exhibition marks the first public display of these archives, many of which have been hidden away for years.

According to Ageman Ross, serving as the Chief Curator at the Design Museum, it’s remarkable that Wes Anderson, an up-and-coming filmmaker, had the insight and planning to store all his props and meticulously designed items for his personal collection.

Discover Wes Anderson: The Exhibition, launching on November 21! Unveil further information by visiting the Design Museum’s website.

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2025-05-01 15:55