“Elton John: Egg On His Face, New York” by David LaChapelle, 1999 (Photo: © David LaChapelle)
Sir Elton John is known as one of the greatest singer-songwriters of our time, as well as a respected philanthropist along with husband David Furnish. But did you know that John and Furnish are also passionate about photography? A new exhibition at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum shines a light on their vast photography collection, displaying over 300 rare prints from their collection of over 7,000 images.
Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection is a wonderful voyage through 20th and 21st century photography. From Nan Goldin and Cindy Sherman to Bruce Davidson and Robert Mapplethorpe, all the big names you may expect are part of the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection. Covering a period from 1950 to today, 140 photographers are on display in a celebration of 30 years of collecting.
John and Furnish have put together a nuanced collection indicative of their personal taste and unique eye for photography. To reflect the wealth of imagery, the V&A has organized the show across eight thematic sections, including fashion, reportage, celebrity, the male body, and American photography.
Highlights include Nan Goldin’s Thanksgiving, a 149-image series on display in its entirety, three images of Marilyn Monroe, and a whimsical portrait of John by David LaChapelle. More recent work, such as a viral image by Associated Press photographer Julio Cortez, taken at the protests in Minneapolis following the murder of George Floyd in May 2020, is also included.
John and Furnish first collaborated with the museum in 2014 when they loaned the institution images by Horst P. Horst. Fragile Beauty is another step in that collaboration and a wonderful way to expose the public to modern and contemporary photography.
“Whether through the elegance of fashion photography, the creativity of musicians and performers, the exploration of desire, or the passage of history as captured by photojournalism, photography reveals something important about the world,” shares Duncan Forbes, curator of Fragile Beauty. “Fragile Beauty is a truly epic journey across the recent history of photography, and a celebration of Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s passion for the medium.”
Fragile Beauty: Photographs from the Sir Elton John and David Furnish Collection is on view at the Victoria & Albert Museum until January 5, 2025.
A new exhibition at London’s Victoria & Albert Museum celebrates Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s rich photography collection.
“Untitled Film Still #17” by Cindy Sherman, 1978 (Photo: © Cindy Sherman, courtesy of the artist and Hauser & Wirth Gallery)
“Malcolm X, Chicago, Illinois, USA” by Eve Arnold, 1962 (Photo: © Eve Arnold/Magnum Photos)
“Black Americans. New York City” by Bruce Davidson, 1962 (Photo: © Bruce Davidson Magnum Photos)
“Candy Darling on her Deathbed” by Peter Hujar, 1974 (Photo: © 2023 The Peter Hujar Archive, LLC / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York)
The duo’s collection, which has been amassed over 30 years, includes 7,000 images.
“Chet Baker, New York City” by Herman Leonard, 1956 (Photo: © Herman Leonard Photography, LLC)
“Jimmy Paulette and Taboo! In the Bathroom” by Nan Goldin, 1991 (Photo: © Nan Goldin. Courtesy of Nan Goldin and Gagosian)
“Crying Men (Laurence Fishburne)” by Sam Taylor-Johnson, 2002 (Photo: © Sam Taylor-Johnson)
Fragile Beauty includes over 300 rare photos that explore photography from 1950 to today.
“Poppy” by Robert Mapplethorpe, 1988 (Photo: © Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation. Used by permission)
“Simply Fragile” by Tyler Mitchell, 2022 (Photo: © Tyler Mitchell. Courtesy of the artist)
“Dakota Hair” by Ryan McGinley, 2004 (Photo: © Ryan McGinley Studios)
The show is organized into thematic sections that include fashion, reportage, celebrity, the male body, and American photography.
Photo: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Photo: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
“Fragile Beauty is a truly epic journey across the recent history of photography, and a celebration of Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s passion for the medium.”
Photo: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Photo: © Victoria and Albert Museum, London