London’s Victoria & Albert Museum has announced a new landmark exhibition, which will chart the career of supermodel, Naomi Campbell.
The exhibition, which will deftly be named NAOMI, will document Streatham-born Campbell’s career to date. It’s the first time the museum has honoured a model with a career retrospective; among the previous subjects of its exhibitions have been David Bowie and Kylie Minogue.
NAOMI will feature pieces from Campbell’s personal wardrobe as well as 100 looks worn by the supermodel in fashion shows with Alexander McQueen, Chanel and Vivienne Westwood among the brands to have lent pieces to the museum’s exhibition.
Within the V&A’s collections are the blue moc-croc 30.5cm high platforms Campbell elegantly tumbled from in a Vivienne Westwood show in 1993, which had previously been on long-standing display.
‘Naomi Campbell’s extraordinary career intersects with the best of high fashion. She is recognised worldwide as a supermodel, activist, philanthropist, and creative collaborator, making her one of the most prolific and influential figures in contemporary culture. We’re delighted to be working with Naomi Campbell on this project and to celebrate her career with our audiences,’ says Sonnet Stanfill, the V&A’s senior curator of fashion.
Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss pictured in 1995.
News of the exhibition follows what has been a hectic fashion month for Campbell. Not only did her Apple TV+ documentary, The Super Models, with Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington premiere, but she also closed Sarah Burton’s swan song show for Alexander McQueen at Paris Fashion Week.
Taking to Instagram, Campbell said: ‘I’m honoured to be asked by the V&A to share my life in clothes with the world. The V&A’s fashion collection is one of the largest collections in the world, and it is a blessing to work with them to share my story.’
NAOMI will take place at the Victoria & Albert Museum from 22 June 2024 – 6 April 2025.
