The Cult of Beauty

Wellcome Collection

This major new exhibition explores notions of beauty across time and cultures.

Around the world, beauty is constantly seen as an ideal worthy of going to great lengths to achieve. But what are the driving forces that lead us to believe in a myth of universal beauty, despite its evolving nature?

Featuring over 200 items, including historical objects, artworks, films and new commissions, we consider the influence of morality, status, health, age, race and gender on the evolution of ideas about beauty. We invite you to question established norms and reflect on more inclusive definitions of beauty.

Artists including Juno Calypso, J.D. Okhai Ojeikere and Angélica Dass, display their work alongside new pieces from Narcissister, Xcessive Aesthetics, Renaissance Goo x Baum & Leahy, Makeupbrutalism (Eszter Magyar) and The Unseen, as well as the debut of new film, Permissible Beauty, in a cultural mish-mash.

All images Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert

Guardian review

Evening Standard review

Wallpaper review

Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
Courtesy of Wellcome Collection/ Ben Gilbert
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