Massive #DavidBowie Archive Acquired by V&A Museum in London

The V&A Museum in London has acquired an immense 80,000-piece archive from late music icon David Bowie. This collection will be showcased starting in 2025 at their new centre for performing arts study.

This collection captures the creative process of a multi-faceted philharmonic innovator, taste icon and champion for self-expression. It includes over 70,000 photographs, slides and images as well as handwritten lyrics, album artwork and stage designs.

Collection Highlights

The V&A Museum in London recently acquired an expansive David Bowie archive as a gift from his estate. Included within are handwritten lyrics for songs like Fame and Heroes, sketches, letters, costumes (including his Ziggy Stardust pieces), stage props, instruments as well as intimate writings and unrealised projects - many never before seen publicly before.

In 2025, The David Bowie Centre for the Study of Performing Arts will open its doors to the public at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park's new V&A location. This endeavor has been made possible thanks to donations from both Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group of PS10million each, according to the museum.

Dr Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, declared David Bowie to be "one of our history's most original and innovative artists," noting his groundbreaking innovations across music, fashion, theatre, film and style continue to shape design and visual culture today."

Bowie's legendary songs feature handwritten lyrics, as well as over 70,000 pictures, prints, slides, negatives, large format transparencies and contact sheets taken by renowned photographers including Terry O'Neill and Helmut Newton. Additionally, some instruments owned by Bowie such as Brian Eno's EMS synthesizer from Low and Heroes albums.

For five decades, the chameleon-like pop icon traversed the worlds of music, fashion, drama and art - ultimately culminating in his passing in 2016. He was renowned for his eclectic taste in music as well as an individualistic aesthetic which led to numerous personas over the years.

Music

The V&A Museum in London has acquired an 80,000-piece archive from British musician David Bowie's estate, according to AP. This includes costumes, handwritten lyrics, awards, photos, stage designs and musical instruments that will be on display at a new arts center beginning in 2025, according to the museum.

The collection spans more than five decades and contains personal writings and thoughts which were not featured during the museum's 2013 exhibition "David Bowie Is." Notable pieces include Freddie Burretti's multicolored jumpsuit for Ziggy Stardust, Kansai Yamamoto's futuristic creations for the 1973 Aladdin Sane tour, or a Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for 1997's Earthling album cover.

Highlights include handwritten lyrics for songs like "Fame" and "Heroes," as well as examples of Bowie's unique "cut up" writing style introduced to him by William Burroughs. According to the V&A, this archive will offer an inspiring insight into Bowie's creative process.

The purchase of Bowie's 80,000-piece archive by the V&A museum will enable them to open a centre dedicated to him in 2025, funded by a 10 million pound ($12 million) donation from Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group. The David Bowie Centre for Study of Performing Arts will be part of V&A East Storehouse - an offshoot located near Olympic Park in east London's Olympic Park - and Kate Bailey, senior curator and producer for theatre and performance at V&A said this acquisition "mind blowing". She described it as "mind blowing".

Memorabilia

The V&A Museum in London recently acquired an incredible 80,000-item archive from David Bowie's estate. This collection includes handwritten lyrics, letters, photos, costumes, awards, stage designs and instruments owned by the late musician.

Items from this collection will be showcased at a new arts centre dedicated to the iconic pop icon. Scheduled to open in 2025 at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, Dr Tristram Hunt - director of the Victoria & Albert Museum (V&A) - said that it "reveals the creative processes" of one of music, theatre, film, fashion and beyond pioneers.

It also documents the "imaginative processes" of David Bowie, a musical innovator, taste icon and champion for self-expression and reinvention from his early days in the 1960s to his passing in 2016. This archive's acquisition and creation were made possible thanks to a PS10 million donation from both his Estate and Warner Music Group.

As well as items from Bowie's career, the collection includes Brian Eno's EMS synthesizer used on his 1977 album Low; examples of Eno's "cut-up" technique for lyric writing, which involved literally cutting up existing texts to create new meanings; and clothing designed by artists including Freddie Burretti, Kansai Yamamoto and Alexander McQueen.

In an interview with Variety, Ms Bailey revealed the meticulous care taken in preserving David Bowie's archive. It had been scanned and restored for the Museum, guaranteeing its safety for future generations to enjoy.

The David Bowie Archive will join the V&A's Theatre & Performance collections, which also house iconic individuals and organizations such as Vivien Leigh, Peter Brook, and Akram Khan Dance Company. Through this new centre, fans can get up close to Bowie's work and gain unique insights into his creative process like never before.

Photography

The V&A Museum in London recently announced the purchase of an extensive collection of David Bowie's photographs, album sleeve artwork and memorabilia. This vast array includes more than 70,000 images, prints, slides, negatives and large format transparencies taken by some of photography's most renowned practitioners such as Terry O'Neill and Brian Duffy.

The collection showcases the artist's diverse creative endeavors. These range from images depicting his teenage life to reconfigured characters and reimagined stage performances.

These include images of David Bowie as a young man wearing an androgynous, Ziggy Stardust-inspired bodysuit designed by Freddie Burretti; his Union Jack coat from Earthling album cover designed by Alexander McQueen; and Kansai Yamamoto's vibrant costumes for Aladdin Sane tour. This extensive range of material showcases Bowie's involvement in every aspect of his creative process - from songwriting to set design and costume design.

In addition to photographs, the exhibition also showcases handwritten lyrics and EMS synthesizers from the musician's illustrious career. These include examples of his "cut up" technique for lyric writing, which involved literally cutting up existing texts in order to create new meanings from rearranged pieces.

Bowie's art was marked by its complexity, challenging social norms and encouraging self-expression for decades. Through his visual and musical inventions as well as collaborations with artists from fashion, music, graphics, theatre and film, his interdisciplinary process continues to influence today's cultural innovators and practitioners.

In 2025, The V&A will open a special centre dedicated to Bowie's work. This acquisition and creation were made possible thanks to a PS10 million donation from both David Bowie Estate and Blavatnik Family Foundation.

Film

The V&A Museum in London has recently acquired an incredible 80,000-piece archive from David Bowie's estate as a gift. This vast collection spans his career and includes costumes, photos, letters and musical instruments.

Today, the V&A announced their acquisition of David Bowie's archive from his estate through a 10 million pound ($12 million) donation from both Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group. This collection will be showcased in 2025 at their new David Bowie Centre for Study of Performing Arts located in Stratford, east London.

This collection, featuring handwritten lyrics, original costumes, photography, set designs, album artwork and rare performance material from one of modern music's greatest innovators and influences, provides an insight into his creative process. Spanning from 1960 until his passing in 2016, it also contains intimate notebooks and unrealized projects - many never before seen by anyone!

There are over 60 stage costumes, such as Ziggy Stardust bodysuits designed by Freddie Burretti; Kansai Yamamoto's daring creations for Aladdin Sane tour; and Bowie and Alexander McQueen's Union Jack coat featured on 1997 Earthling album cover. Plus there are 70,000 photographs, prints, negatives and slides present.

Dr Tristram Hunt, director of the V&A, expressed his delight at becoming custodians of David Bowie's remarkable archive and opening it to the public. He went on to say how Bowie's radical innovations across music, theatre, film, fashion and style - from Berlin to Tokyo to London - continue to shape design and visual culture today. Dr Hunt praised Bowie for his "sustained reinventions, innovative collaborations and bold characterizations" that changed music forever, transformed how we see our culture as well as encouraged people to define themselves independently.