Well, well, well. Just when you thought the Barbie craze was over … surprise! We now move from Hollywood to London in celebration of the brand’s 65th anniversary. This exhibition at the Design Museum lays out the Barbie brand’s history, beginning with Barbie’s birth in 1959, when Ruth Handler, having observed that adult dolls did not exist in the toy market, fashioned a plastic doll with a Bettie Page body. Curated by Danielle Thom, who was granted special access to the Barbie archives in California, the show presents both classic and rare pieces—including fashion, architecture, furniture, and vehicles—in its exploration of the brand’s mystical staying power. —Jeanne Malle
The Arts Intel Report
Barbie®: The Exhibition
A 1962 Barbie Dream House.
When
Until Feb 23, 2025
Where
Etc
Photo: Mattel, Inc.