Wes Anderson’s archive to debut in landmark exhibition at the Design Museum
More than 600 objects from the visionary filmmaker’s career — including costumes, models, and notebooks — will go on public display for the first time in a major retrospective opening in London this November.
Wes Anderson. Copyright Searchlight Pictures. Photo Charlie Gray..
The Design Museum in London is set to host the first-ever major retrospective dedicated to the work of acclaimed filmmaker Wes Anderson. Opening on 21 November 2025, Wes Anderson: The Archives will feature over 600 original objects from his films, many of which have never been publicly exhibited before. Unveiled on the director’s birthday, the exhibition promises a rare behind-the-scenes look into Anderson’s singular cinematic worlds, including the monumental model of The Grand Budapest Hotel and Oscar-winning costume designs.
The exhibition spans Anderson’s career from his early works in the 1990s through to his recent Oscar-winning short The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar. It will include everything from hand-drawn storyboards, miniature sets and stop-motion puppets, to costumes worn by iconic characters such as Margot Tenenbaum and Steve Zissou. Visitors will even get a glimpse into the director’s creative process through his personal notebooks filled with handwritten notes and sketches. A screening of Anderson’s 1993 short Bottle Rocket adds an extra treat for longtime fans.
7Sam Shakuski's Scout kit, MOONRISE KINGDOM. Photo Richard Round-Turner. © the Design Museum.
Originally premiered at La Cinémathèque française in Paris, the show has been reimagined and expanded for its London run. Over 100 new objects will be added, with a fresh emphasis on Anderson’s intricate world-building and the creative collaborations behind his films. Key figures from his production team — including costume designers, composers, and model makers — will be spotlighted alongside their contributions. The exhibition also explores Anderson’s passion for handcrafted techniques, especially in stop-motion animation.
Model of THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL © Thierry Stefanopoulos . La Cinémathèque française.
Wes Anderson has personally safeguarded many of these items since his second film, Rushmore, determined not to lose any pieces to studio clearance. The result is a uniquely curated archive, rich with physical artefacts that reflect his visual and narrative precision. As curator Lucia Savi puts it, “Every single object in a Wes Anderson film is very personal to him — they are not simply props, they are fully formed pieces of art and design.” With its deep dive into this remarkable collection, the exhibition celebrates a filmmaker whose storytelling is inseparable from the objects that inhabit his meticulously crafted worlds.
Date: 21 November 2025 – 26 July 2026. Location: Design Museum, 224–238 Kensington High Street, London W8 6AG. Price: from £19.69. designmuseum.org.
