Wes Anderson: The Archives is the first major museum exhibition dedicated to the filmmaker’s distinctive and extensive body of work. Wes Anderson: The Archives is the first major museum exhibition dedicated to the filmmaker’s distinctive and extensive body of work. Developed in collaboration with la Cinémathèque française in Paris and the Design Museum in London, and with the involvement of Wes Anderson, the exhibition draws on material from the filmmaker’s personal archives.

Kvadrat has supported the exhibition with 230 meters of Relate, an upholstery textile by Patricia Urquiola, used as curtains and panel-wrapped backdrops. Chosen for its monochromatic colour range, the colourways were selected to complement the curational choices across different sections of the exhibition. A faux-uni, Relate reveals a dense directional weave that unites two unicoloured yarns that seemingly melt together. Its compact twill-woven construction subtly references the world of fashion and conveys a sense of movement.

Opening on 21 November 2025, the exhibition presents more than 700 items from Anderson’s archive, spanning his career from Bottle Rocket to The Phoenician Scheme. Among the objects on display is the large-scale candy-pink model of The Grand Budapest Hotel, originally used to film the building’s façade for the 2014 production.

the Design Museum
224-238 Kensington High Street,
Kensington,
London W8 6AG


21 November 2025 – 26 July 2026
Monday — Thursday, 10am – 5pm
Friday — Sunday, 10am – 6pm

Wes Anderson’s archives

Anderson has kept items from his films for nearly thirty years, and he has amassed thousands of varied objects. This exhibition is the first time the archives have been displayed, with the vast majority of items having been in storage ever since they were first used on their respective film sets. Almost uniquely as a filmmaker, Anderson builds his filmic worlds by ensuring that what is seen on screen is conceived and crafted as a ‘real’ object.

Although visible only for few seconds, these are much more than mere props and Anderson himself is closely involved in the commission and creation of each one. Anderson’s meticulous collection of these items began when he realised that everything that had been made for Bottle Rocket was owned and then sold off by the film’s production company. So, from his second feature film — Rushmore — he personally took care of every item after shooting concluded, ensuring he was the guardian of all items crafted for each movie.

About la Cinémathèque française
Exhibitions – Films and lectures – Young people activities – The Méliès Museum

In 1936, Henri Langlois, a visionary figure, founded la Cinémathèque française to save films from destruction, along with costumes, sets, posters and other cinematic treasures. Today, housed in a resolutely modern building designed by Frank Gehry, la Cinémathèque française preserves, restores and showcases cinema in a unique way through its numerous activities and one of the world's largest film collections. A true crossroads of cinephilia, it constantly reexamines cinema across all periods, horizons and genres. It enables spectators to make wonderful film discoveries through films and lectures (4 auditoriums), exhibitions (Discover the Wes Anderson exhibition from 19 March to 27 July 2025), the Méliès Museum, a film library, a bookshop, a restaurant and activities for young people.

www.cinematheque.fr 

About the Design Museum

The Design Museum is a multifaceted museum, an ever-changing space for the public, industry and education to come together and explore new ideas. A registered charity, the museum's innovative exhibitions, partnerships, research and learning programmes evidence how design can enable this planet and its inhabitants to thrive. Our landmark building in Kensington is the centre of our national network and a global hub for the transformative potential of design.

https://designmuseum.org/