Wes Anderson: The Archives at London's Design Museum
The Design Museum in London has launched “Wes Anderson: The Archives,” a retrospective offering over 700 pieces from the celebrated filmmaker’s body of work. This is the first time Anderson’s archives, spanning three decades, are on public display in the UK. The exhibition runs from November 21, 2025, to July 26, 2026, and features objects from his debut film Bottle Rocket (1996) up to his latest, The Phoenician Scheme (2025).
Key Highlights of the Exhibition
- A massive, candy-pink, three-meter-wide model of the Grand Budapest Hotel’s facade, used in the 2014 film.
- The FENDI fur coat worn by Gwyneth Paltrow as Margot Tenenbaum.
- Original stop-motion puppets from Fantastic Mr. Fox and Isle of Dogs—including Mr. Fox’s iconic corduroy suit.
- Unique props and costumes from The Phoenician Scheme, such as a bejeweled dagger and Dunhill pipe.
- Additional items like storyboards, polaroids, spiral-bound notebooks, and miniature sets tracing Anderson’s evolution from the 1990s through his most recent productions.
Collaborative Curation and Special Features
This show is a collaboration between la Cinémathèque française and the Design Museum. Visitors will also find a special screening of the rare 14-minute Bottle Rocket short film and expanded sections not previously shown in the Paris premiere, with more than 300 new objects for the London run.
Quotes from the Exhibition
“The inclusion of these objects from The Phoenician Scheme is a fitting conclusion of this expansive exhibition… So, we are thrilled that we can bring this latest chapter in Wes Anderson’s story to visitors.”
“It is an absolute gift that even as a young film-maker Wes Anderson had the vision and foresight to save all his props and beautifully crafted objects for his own archive.”
“Anderson’s attention to detail is underpinned by an acute understanding of design and craftsmanship, which is why the Design Museum is the perfect location for this landmark retrospective.”
Additional Insights
- The exhibition’s context is enhanced by contributions from Anderson’s collaborators, such as Owen Wilson, Scarlett Johansson, and Jason Schwartzman, in an accompanying catalogue that explores design, development, and storytelling in Anderson’s work.
- Each film has a dedicated section in the exhibition, showing the progression of Anderson’s distinct visual style and creative process.
- The London edition features significant new interpretive materials and craftsmanship details, including fabric textures and engineered miniatures.
Author’s Summary
This landmark exhibition gives visitors an in-depth look at Wes Anderson's creative universe, blending film, design, and narrative through hundreds of meticulously preserved artifacts and iconic objects over three decades of cinematic history.