From his suburban beginnings to the chaotic throes of Hollywood, American animator and director Tim Burton, 66, has ascended to legendary status. You know his films and love his characters, and now, in partnership with Harvey Nichols, the Design Museum invites you to step inside his swirling world which overflows with fantasy and curious creatures. Dubbed The World Of Tim Burton, the major display – which has driven the biggest advanced ticket sales in the museum’s 35 year history – opens today and will run until April 21, 2025.
Starting out with some of Burton’s earliest sketches, the display travels through six distinct and chronological sections spanning five decades of his indelible career. These include ‘Suburban Beginnings’, ‘Crafting Imagination’, ‘Carnivalesque’, ‘Building Worlds’, ‘Drawing Narratives’ and ‘Beyond Film’. From his earliest unrealised projects to pieces from his film Beetlejuice Beetlejuice which hit cinemas only last month, there’s a whopping 600 items on display, from fascinating objects and figurines of the director’s quirky, almost chimeric characters to the original costumes, many taken from Burton’s own archive. Other pieces are pulled from the archives at key film studios like Paramount, Amazon MGM Studios and Warner Bros as well as from the private collections of Burton’s collaborators such as production designer Rick Heinrichs, architect and designer Anton Furst and the award-winning puppet makers and stop-motion animators Mackinnon and Saunders. Burton comments, “It’s a strange thing, to put 50 years of art and your life on view for everyone to see, especially when that was never the original purpose.”
With over 18 of his films individually spotlighted and the creative processes behind them celebrated, visitors can expect to be especially enthralled by the iconic costumes that are on view. These include Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman costume from 1992’s Batman Returns and the black and white striped dress from 1999’s Sleepy Hollow, worn by Christina Ricci. Jenna Ortega’s Rave’N dance dress from 2022’s Wednesday can also be seen alongside the series’ school uniform, designed by Colleen Atwood. Arguably the most exciting is Johnny Depp’s instantly-recognisable costume for Edward Scissorhands, also designed by Atwood. This is presented alongside Bo Welch’s set design models for the movie, Stan Winston’s infamous scissor hands and seven of Burton’s earliest iterations of the character.
Tim Burton photographed by Steve Schofield
Organised by independent curator Jenny He and curated by Maria McLintock, the exhibition comes to London – Burton’s adopted home – for the very first time after a hugely successful decade-long world tour that has seen it visit 14 cities in 11 countries since 2014. This production also marks the final time the exhibition will ever be displayed, so don’t sleep on securing your tickets. “In the past, I have resisted having the exhibition in London, however, collaborating with the Design Museum for this final stop was the right choice. They understand the art, and with the opportunity to adapt the show and highlight the way design interacts with the works, I’ve been able to view it all through an exciting new lens,” says Burton.
McLintock adds, “For Tim Burton, each film begins with a drawing that he often returns to over time, almost like old friends. We’re thrilled to be displaying so many of these deeply personal works at the Design Museum, in the heart of the city he’s called home for over twenty years. This hugely successful show has delighted audiences across the globe for over a decade, but our Design Museum reimagining, with many new additions and new narratives, means this is an unprecedented opportunity to be immersed in Tim Burton’s unique and singular vision.”
For more than half a century, Burton’s extravagant worlds have captured hearts around the world, defining childhood’s and forging gothic fantasies amongst the more curious of kids and adults alike. The World Of Tim Burton is not to be missed. Purchase your tickets here.
Photography courtesy of the Design Museum.
