This summer Te Papa will host Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery, a dazzling retrospective exhibition celebrating four decades of the legendary British designer’s unique creations.
Opening its doors on January 17 it will be the world’s first major exhibition focused solely on Westwood’s jewellery, and is set to offer an immersive dive into the legacy of a designer who shaped both fashion and culture.
With more than 550 pieces of jewellery and 15 full ensembles, this exhibition doesn’t just showcase wearable art it captures the evolution of a style that’s defined and redefined British fashion. What’s most exciting for Kiwis is that we will be the first to experience the show, before it moves to Asia, Europe, and America in 2025.
Curated by the house of Vivienne Westwood and brought to life by Nomad Exhibitions, the exhibition features a series of themed rooms. Visitors are guided through Westwood’s punk beginnings, with nods to her distinct decades of design and later subversive collections filled with socio-political messages.
Alongside glittering displays, wall prints, catwalk looks, and soundscapes further transport viewers into the vivid and rebellious world of Westwood’s fashion house. Expect to see tiaras, orbs, and jewelled earrings with the signature Westwood twist.
Westwood, who died aged 81 in 2022, was known for her revolutionary contributions to fashion, and in particular, punk culture. Her eponymously named fashion label was worn and loved by celebrities from Princess Diana to Madonna, to Kate Moss. The late designer championed jewellery as an essential element of her iconic aesthetic, seamlessly merging historical influences with a rebellious edge — a signature style evident across her catwalks and in every piece she created.
Alongside the exhibition, Te Papa will host a range of events celebrating Westwood’s contributions to fashion, feminism, sustainability, and more, allowing fans to delve deeper into her world.
Running until April 27, Vivienne Westwood & Jewellery promises to be a highlight of Te Papa’s summer calendar, celebrating the life and legacy of one of fashion’s greatest provocateurs.
Tickets are available to be purchased from tepapa.govt.nz.
Photography: Supplied
