A major exhibition exploring the design evolution of one of the world’s most famous dolls: Barbie. Journey into the Barbie universe discovering over 250 remarkable objects, with rare, unique, and innovative dolls dating from 1959 to the present day.

Highlights include a rare first edition of the very first doll released by Mattel in 1959 (‘Number 1 Barbie’), the groundbreaking Day to Night Barbie from 1985 and the best-selling Barbie of all time, 1992’s Totally Hair Barbie which sold over 10 million across the globe.

Other dolls highlight the diversity of the Barbie range, with examples of the first Black, Hispanic, and Asian dolls to bear the Barbie name, as well as dolls that reflect today’s diverse, multicultural society, including the first Barbie with Down syndrome, the first to use a wheelchair and the first to be designed with a curvy body shape.

There are also on display the friends of Barbie, including her first friend, Midge, and the much-loved Christie and Teresa; as well as the younger sister of Barbie, Skipper. There is a section dedicated to Ken, with six decades’ worth of Ken dolls, showing his evolution from his introduction in 1961.

Other objects from this historic brand will include Dreamhouses, vehicles, and furniture, including the first-ever Barbie Dreamhouse™ from 1962. Together, these items show how Barbie’s homes, vehicles, and other products have all helped to design the universe in which she exists and have always reflected the tastes and trends of the day, engaging with modern design in an aspirational but accessible way.

Design Museum
224-238 Kensington High St
W8 6AG London

Bookings office: bookings@designmuseum.org

Press office: pr@designmuseum.org
designmuseum.org/

The first major UK exhibition of American artist Mike Kelley. The exhibition features the elaborate, provocative, and imaginary worlds created by experimental artist Mike Kelley. From the late 1970s to 2012, Kelley made a diverse body of work using drawing, collage, performance, found objects, and video.

Spanning Kelley’s entire career, the exhibition features his breakthrough 'craft' sculptures made from textile and plush toys through to his multi-media installations such as Day Is Done. Drawing on references from popular and underground culture, literature, and philosophy, Kelley explores how the roles we play in society are entangled with historical facts and imaginary characters from the films and images we consume.

Over a decade since his passing, Kelley’s reflections on identity and memory continue to resonate.

Organised by Tate Modern in collaboration with Bourse de Commerce, Paris, K21, Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen, Dusseldorf and Moderna Museet, Stockholm

Tate Modern
Bankside
SE1 9TG London

Contact: www.tate.org.uk

Centres around the legendary nightclub Taboo, opened by designer and performance artist Leigh Bowery in 1985.

Outlaws: Fashion Renegades of 80s London exhibition centres around the legendary nightclub Taboo, opened by designer and performance artist Leigh Bowery in 1985.

Imposing ‘dress as though your life depends on it, or don’t bother’ as the dress code, the Taboo circle – which included fashion designers BodyMap, Rachel Auburn, John Crancher and Pam Hogg, dancer Michael Clark and pop star Boy George – sparked a scene that used the language of hedonistic excess to create fashion, art and popular culture.

Displaying original garments and accessories from Leigh Bowery and over thirty designers, including custom-made pieces from private collections and rare pieces from designers such as John Galliano, John Flett, Stephen Linard and Dean Bright amongst others, plus photography, film and artworks, the exhibition focuses on this vibrant alternative arena where the anarchic energy of the night spilt over into experimental creativity by day.

Image credit: © Brendan Beirne/Shutterstock-Leigh Bowery and Boy George in "Blitz" Designer Collection Fashion Show at the Albery Theatre. London, 1986.

Fashion and Textile Museum
83 Bermondsey Street London
SE1 3XF London

Contact: P : +44 (0)20 74 07 86 64
fashiontextilemuseum@newham.ac.uk
fashiontextilemuseum.org

The contemporary artist invites us to transition from the mundane to a realm where art becomes a channel for healing and spiritual awakening. Through simple body positions, Abramović engages us in a performative dialogue that encourages a reevaluation of our relationship with everyday objects.

Her approach intertwines time and direct experience, turning the exhibition into a living performance where observers can become participants and vice versa. Healing Frequency represents the culmination of Marina Abramović's 55-year exploration of art, spirituality, and human consciousness.

Her methodology blends extensive research with personal experiences, drawing inspiration from a rich tapestry of spiritual practices, from Tibetan monastic rituals to Aboriginal ceremonies and Brazilian shamanic traditions. Abramović's dedication to exploring the immaterial and creating works that transcend their physical utility reflects her deep engagement with diverse cultures and their spiritual legacies.

This exhibition embodies her lifelong quest to bridge the gap between energy and consciousness, illuminating art’s profound capacity to heal and transform.

Moco Museum London
1-4 Marble Arch
W2 2UH London