Design Museum To Host an Extensive 65th Anniversary of Barbie Exhibition in 2024

There’s simply no escaping Barbie World. After Greta Gerwig took the world (and box office) by storm with her Barbie blockbuster this summer, and with the Barbie franchise’s 65th anniversary coming up next year, London’s Design Museum has partnered with Mattel to host an expansive Barbie exhibit for the occasion. Opening its doors in 2024, the exhibition will holisitcally explore the design evolution of the timeless doll.

Granted special access to the extensive Barbie archives in California, the exhibition will showcase unique archival pieces and auction off a selection of iconic items as well. Curated by Danielle Thom, Barbie’s evolution will be analyzed from the beginning – in 1959 when Ruth Handler wanted to create a different doll for her daughter, Barbara – and through different lenses as well, including fashion, architecture, furniture and vehicle design.

“Barbie is one of the most recognizable brands on the planet and as we’ve seen recently, her story evolves with each new generation,” conveyed Tim Marlow, the Design Museum’s Director and CEO in a recent statement. “I am delighted that we can announce that we’re planning to mark Barbie’s 65th birthday with a major exhibition, and I want to thank Mattel for collaborating with us through their extensive archive to help us tell this story. We look forward next year to displaying a whole range of eye-catching objects, some familiar but many never seen before, to showcase the evolution of design across the decades of Barbie’s world.”

The exhibition opens on July 5, 2024, and will remain on display until February 23, 2025. Tickets will go live in the spring, though a date has not been announced yet. Visit the Design Museum’s website for more details.

Design Museum
224-238 Kensington High St
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