Opening this weekend at London’s V&A is a major exhibition of modern and contemporary photography on loan from the private collection of Sir Elton John and David Furnish.
Showcasing over 300 rare prints from over 140 photographers – the majority of which are on display to the public for the first time – Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection is the V&A’s largest temporary exhibition of photography to date.
Covering the period from the 1950s to the present day, the exhibition brings together an unrivalled selection of the world’s leading photographers to tell the story of modern and contemporary photography. It includes works by Robert Mapplethorpe, Cindy Sherman, William Eggleston, Diane Arbus, Sally Mann, Zanele Muholi, Ai Weiwei, Carrie Mae Weems and more.
Marking 30 years of collecting, the exhibition celebrates John and Furnish’s passion for the medium, reflecting their personal taste and unique eye as collectors. Across eight thematic sections, the exhibition explores subjects such as fashion, reportage, celebrity, the male body and American photography.
Portraits of stars from stage and screen feature, including photography of Marilyn Monroe, Miles Davis and Chet Baker, as well as iconic images from key moments of history from the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, AIDS activism of the 1980s and the events of 11 September 2001.
Also on display are the very first acquisitions made by John, fashion photographs by Horst P. Horst, Irving Penn and Herb Ritts, as well as some of the newest additions to their collection including Tyler Mitchell, Trevor Paglen and An-My Lê.
The exhibition is part of the ongoing partnership between Sir Elton John and David Furnish with the V&A, which began with their generous support for the V&A’s Photography Centre in 2019.
Sir Elton John and David Furnish, said: “Since we first loaned a selection of Horst photographs to the V&A in 2014, our relationship with the museum has grown significantly. Fragile Beauty takes our collaboration to really exciting new heights, showcasing some of the most beloved photographers and iconic images from within our collection.”
Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection opens at the V&A on 18 May (until 5 January 2025). The exhibition is presented in partnership with Gucci. For further information: vam.ac.uk
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Image: Installation image of Fragile Beauty at V&A South Kensington © Victoria and Albert Museum, London