Joining forces with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, pieces from Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s private photography collection are on display for the first time ever.
Coinciding with Sir Elton John’s birthday, the V&A has just unveiled its new major photography exhibition. Titled Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection, the exhibition – made in partnership with Gucci – will showcase over 300 rare prints from 140 photographers.
Hand-selected from Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s collection of over 7,000 images, the exhibited photographs will explore themes such as strength, vulnerability and the human condition. As a result, the exhibition will provide an intimate insight into John and Furnish’s lives as visitors marvel at the era-defining images. Having previously adorned the walls of their homes and now appearing in bespoke frames, the photographs demonstrate the couple’s deep interest in the creative medium.
“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.”
Sir Elton John
“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. Working alongside the V&A again has been a truly memorable experience, and we look forward to sharing this exhibition with the public,” explains Sir Elton John and David Furnish.
Across eight unique themes – curated by Duncan Forbes – Fragile Beauty will explore pivotal ideas concerning fashion, reportage, celebrity, the male body, and American photography. Presenting photography from famed figures such as Aretha Franklin, Elizabeth Taylor, The Beatles and Chet Baker, visitors will be treated to a star-studded image-making ensemble.
Carousel image credits: Cindy Sherman, Untitled Film Still #17, 1978 © Cindy Sherman, courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth Gallery. Marilyn Monroe by © Eve Arnold, Magnum Photos. Gillian Wearing, Self Portrait, 2000 © Gillian Wearing, courtesy Maureen Paley, London, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery, New York and Regen Projects, Los Angeles. Ryan McGinley, Dakota Hair, 2004 © Ryan McGinley Studios.
Similarly, celebrities become the focal point of many pieces. For example, a standout figure in the exhibition is Marilyn Monroe – America’s timeless sweetheart. Captured by lauded photographers such as Richard Avedon, Eve Arnold and Bert Stern, the blonde bombshell’s legacy remains unwavering.
Meanwhile, for those more interested in historical and political imagery, do not fret. The exhibition has everyone covered. Recognizing the V&A as an incredible platform to uplift voices and unheard stories, Fragile Beauty includes imagery centered around persecution, resistance, the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, the events of 11th September 2001 and AIDS activism of the 1980s – a cause particularly close to John’s heart after the launch of his eponymous AIDS Foundation in 1992.
Other highlights include David LaChapelle’s Elton John: Egg on His Face, 1999, in which Avedon playfully lenses two eggs embellishing John’s eyes, and Nan Goldin’s Thanksgiving series. Making its public debut, Goldin’s 149-image series documents events from 1973 to 1999 and pays homage to the friendships that survived those twenty-six years, and to the friends she lost. Alternatively, Sam Taylor-Johnson’s Crying Men – featuring Laurence Fishburne, Robin Williams and Daniel Craig – depicts some of Hollywood’s best talent in states of quiet vulnerability.
Underlining the importance of friendship, community and strength, Fragile Beauty exemplifies the couple’s impeccable eye for imagery. And by spotlighting the work of countless celebrated creatives, it’s clear that the exhibition will provoke and enthrall all its visitors.
Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection will run from the 18th of May 2024 to the 5th of January 2025. For more information, please visit here.
Homepage top; Ryan McGinley, Dakota Hair, 2004 © Ryan McGinley Studios..; homepage story image by Nan Goldin-Jimmy Paulette and Taboo! In the Bathroom, 1991 © Nan Goldin. Courtesy of Nan Goldin and Gagosian. Inside top image, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Crying Men (Laurence Fishburne), 2002 © Sam Taylor-Johnson. All images courtesy of the V&A.
