Naomi Campbell is a force to be reckoned with. Not only did she define an era of modeling as one of the “Supers” — a group including Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, and Cindy Crawford, who transcended the fashion industry to become mainstream celebrities — she has arguably out-performed her peers by working at the top of her game for decades. Naturally, she’s a perfect figure for a museum to dedicate an exhibit to.
NAOMI: In Fashion, opening this weekend at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, is doing just that. Spanning Campbell’s 40-year career, the exhibit traces her rise, her creative collaborations with various designers and photographers, and her biggest pop-culture moments. The show features pieces Campbell’s own wardrobe, and a stunning array of photography.
Though this is not the first museum show celebrating the art of modeling (The Costume Institute’s Model as Muse from 2009 comes to mind), it is the first show to ever focus on a single model. It’s a far more nuanced take on the subject, and allows a true exploration of how a model is crucial to the creative process, both in image making and clothing design. There’s a reason why Campbell, specifically, has been so in demand for four decades — her creative contributions and input are invaluable. The fact that she also had a hand in producing NAOMI only reinforces the importance of her voice.
NAOMI: In Fashion opens at the V&A on June 22, 2024, and runs until April 2025. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.