5 Things to know about David Bowie Exhibition in London

The showcase captures his extraordinary journey through music, featuring iconic portraits, personal memorabilia, and highlights from his groundbreaking performances and here are 5 things to discover about this exhibition.

1. “David Bowie Is” – V&A’s Groundbreaking Retrospective

Originally premiered at the V&A in March 2013, running until August that year. Showcased over 300 artifacts, including stage costumes, handwritten lyrics, photos, set designs, and rare personal items.

The exhibition broke V&A attendance records, drawing more than 300,000 visitors in London and nearly 1.5 million worldwide.

2. State-of-the-Art Audio Experience

The exhibition featured immersive audio spheres designed by Sennheiser, where music and narration change as visitors move through themed zones.

A dedicated performance room with surround sound allowed visitors to experience Bowie’s live performances audibly and visually.

3. “Aladdin Sane: 50 Years” – Focus on Iconic Lightning Bolt

During the 1973 Aladdin Sane tour, Bowie was photographed by music photographer, Kevin Cummins. From that moment on, Cummins went onto photograph Bowie throughout his career. The V&A acquired one of Cummin’s classic David Bowie photographs: a bold black and white image which captures the on-stage drama of Ziggy Stardust – the pose, the hairstyle and the flamboyant jumpsuit – yet still conveys a sense of truthful intimacy.

4. New David Bowie Centre at V&A East (Opening 2025)

Situated in Stratford’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the V&A East Storehouse opens 31 May 2025, with the Bowie Centre launching on 13 September 2025. Houses more than 90,000 items—stage costumes, handwritten lyrics, instruments, set models, and intimate writings—with free access.

Features three immersive zones with interactive installations and a special “Order an Object” system for close-up viewing.

5. Unprecedented Archive Access & Insights

V&A secured the Bowie Archive—over 80,000-90,000 items—thanks to the Bowie Estate and a £10 million donation from the Blavatnik Foundation and Warner Music.

The archive spans Bowie’s six-decade career: studio recordings, touring personas (Ziggy Stardust, Thin White Duke), film projects, fashion collaborations, and more. David Bowie Centre will offer an up-close, open-access, curated archive experience—melding scholarly study with public exploration.

The collectors can check out David’s Bowie’s collection at the V&A.

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