The World of Tim Burton exhibition 

Liz Nicholls

Delve into the fantastical world of Tim Burton thanks to a major exhibition at the Design Museum in Kensington, which is so popular it’s been extended until 26^th May

“It’s a strange thing, to put 50 years of art and your life on view for everyone to see,” says Tim Burton, “especially when that was never the original purpose.  

“In the past, I have resisted having the exhibition in London, however, collaborating with the Design Museum for this final stop was the right choice. They understand the art, and with the opportunity to adapt the show and highlight the way design interacts with the works, I’ve been able to view it all through an exciting new lens.” 

The World of Tim Burton exhibition smashed the museum’s record for advance ticket sales when it opened in the winter, with more than 32,000 people snapping up their tickets, making it the biggest advance ticket sales for an exhibition in the Design Museum’s 35-year history. 

The exhibition spans five remarkable decades of creativity, with famed and fascinating objects from Tim Burton’s earliest unrealised projects to his most recent film, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. 

More than 600 items have been brought together to chart the evolution of Tim Burton’s unique design aesthetic. Objects are loaned from his extensive personal archives, key film studio archives including Paramount, Amazon MGM Studios, and Warner Bros., and the private collections of his collaborators. Many items have never been on public display in the UK before.  

Highlights include hundreds of Tim Burton’s expressionistic sketches and drawings that he has created prolifically since childhood. These are seen alongside props, set designs, and costumes from his iconic films, including Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman costume from 1992’s Batman Returns and the black and white striped dress from 1999’s Sleepy Hollow, worn by Christina Ricci.   

Visitors can see a recreation of the private studio where Tim Burton works, giving a rare private glimpse into his creative process. The walls of this installation are lined with illustrations from recent projects, including designs for a 65m high mural depicting an epic battle between a robot and a monster that was installed in São Paulo, Brazil.