Naomi Campbell's glistening 40-year career honoured in 'revelatory exhibition'
Naomi Campbell is set to be honoured in a "first of its kind" exhibition. The supermodel's glistening career, spanning 40 years, will take centre stage at Gallery 40, V&A South Kensington. The exhibition will feature her own "extensive wardrobe".
Organisers say the show will include around 100 looks from the "best of global high fashion chronicling her 40 years in the industry". Visitors will encounter designs by Alexander McQueen, Azzedine Alaïa, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Gianni and Donatella Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, John Galliano, Karl Lagerfeld, Kenneth Ize, Valentino, Virgil Abloh, Vivienne Westwood, Yves Saint Laurent and many others.
Speaking of the exhibition, available from June 22 next year until April 6 2025, Naomi said: "I’m honoured to be asked by the V&A to share my life in clothes with the world." Sonnet Stanfill, senior curator, fashion, V&A, added: "Naomi Campbell’s extraordinary career intersects with the best of high fashion."
The exhibition is available from June 22 next year (V&A South Kensington)They added: "She is recognised worldwide as a supermodel, activist, philanthropist, and creative collaborator, making her one of the most prolific and influential figures in contemporary culture. We’re delighted to be working with Naomi Campbell on this project and to celebrate her career with our audiences."
It comes after Naomi claimed she was paid less than her fellow supermodels during the height of her fame. She made her debut aged just eight in Bob Marley's Is This Love music video before going on to become scouted while studying at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts.
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Aged just 15, the Stretham-born mum-of-two appeared on the cover of British Elle, catapulting her to fame. As her modelling career continued to take off, Campbell went on to walk for the likes of Gianni Versace and Isaac Mizrahi. She was also photographed by the likes of Bruce Weber and Herb Ritts. But as her demand increased, so did the discrimination.
While reuniting with Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista for the cover of British Vogue, Naomi opened up about the discrimination she faced. She said: "Why was it that I was doing the same job as my colleagues and had to take less money? Why was I booked for the shows but not the ads? I was not close-mouthed."
The original supermodel went on to say that while she's taken a back seat from the fashion world, she's now driven by "seeing that opportunities are being given". Naomi along with Turlington and Evangelista, also known as the 'Trinity' were being booked by every big name in the fashion industry, with Evangelista and Turlington previously telling Dolce & Gabbana: "If you don't use Naomi, you don't get us."
In 1988, Naomi became the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue, after fashion legend Yves St. Laurent threatened the publication. He vowed to remove his advertising from the glossy publication if Naomi didn't grace the cover. Just one year later, Naomi became the first black model to appear on the cover of American Vogue's September issue – the biggest and most important issue.
Speaking about working with her close friends who last appeared on the cover of Vogue together in January 1990, Naomi said: "There was a sisterhood there, defined by caring and loyalty: when one is down you pick the other one up." At the time, they were joined by Tatjana Patitz who died aged 56 in January this year following a fight against metastatic breast cancer.
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