Quirky world of Wes Anderson set for Design Museum retrospective

Hundreds of objects from the films of Oscar and Bafta award-winning director Wes Anderson are to go on display in west London in a retrospective of his work.

Known for his quirky and meticulously-created style and pastel-coloured aesthetic, the exhibition at the Design Museum in Kensington will feature more than 600 models, props and costumes from films including the Grand Budapest Hotel and Royal Tenenbaums.

The museum says this is the first time these items have been displayed in Britain.

Co-curator Lucia Savi said every object was “very personal to him – they are not simply props, they are fully formed pieces of art and design that make his inventive worlds come to life”.

Curators say the exhibition will begin with 1996’s Bottle Rocket, Anderson’s first feature film, and end with The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar, a short film based on a Roald Dahl story for which he won an Oscar in 2024 for best live action short film.

As well as finished props and sets, the exhibition will feature work-in-progress material and maquettes – a small-scale model or rough draft of a sculpture or architectural work – organisers say.

Tim Marlow, director and chief executive of the Design Museum, said: “He’s an utterly compelling creator of cinematic worlds, whose singular vision and attention to detail are underpinned by an acute understanding of design and craftsmanship, which is why the Design Museum is the perfect location for this landmark retrospective.”

The show, which premiered at la Cinematheque francaise in Paris in March, launches on 21 November.