It’s been over a year since the capital city (and the whole world) descend into complete and utter Barbie-mania. London landmarks were illuminated in Barbie’s signature colour, London buses were Barbie-fied, and the whole city well-and-truly caught Barbie fever.
But, if you do still happen to have Barbie on the brain, you’ll be delighted to hear the that an entire Barbie exhibition is still showing at London’s Design Museum and will be there for another two weeks.
It’s been over 65 years since the very first Barbie was born and to celebrate the momentous occasion, the Design Museum has dedicated an entire exhibition to the iconic cultural icon since July last year. But it’s your last chance to catch the exhibition as it closes on February 23.
Inside the exhibition
We have the Design Museum’s Danielle Thorn to thank for the exhibition, which maps the incredible legacy that Barbie has created. To create the exhibition, the museum was granted special access to the Barbie archives in California. They’ve dug deep into the past and the exhibition features all sorts of rare and unique items.
A first-edition Barbie, created in 1959 by Ruth Handler, is among 180 rare and remarkable dolls and accessories on display. There is also a rare example of the first-ever Barbie Dreamhouse released in 1962, which is made from cardboard.
Lest you think this is just a movie cash-grab, by the way, this exhibition has been three years in the making. That means they were busy with the curation long before the movie arrived on our screens!
The exhibition also highlights how Barbie has evolved and adapted alongside the trends over the past six-and-a-half decades. Over the years Barbie has grown into a brand that has truly challenged stereotypes and championed feminism and diversity.
Exploring the ‘design phenomenon’ behind the smash hit film, the show also features a ‘small but dedicated section for Kens’ showcasing six decades’ worth of Ken dolls since his creation in 1961.
Curator, Danielle Thom, said: “We are not just talking about the doll itself but the world of Barbie, the universe of Barbie, and the design of that has a really interesting story to tell in terms of how it relates to the design of our own world or as the film put it the real world.”
According to the Design Museum, the exhibition explores ” the story of Barbie through a lens, including fashion, architecture, furniture and vehicle design”. It really is Barbie’s world and we’re all just living in it.
Barbie®: The Exhibition will run until February 23, 2025.
📍 The Design Museum, 224-238 Kensington High Street, W8 6AG. The nearest stations are High Street Kensington and Kensington (Olympia).