The Holburne Museum is celebrating two influential British creatives this season, opening with Zandra Rhodes: A Life in Print, a vibrant showcase of Dame Zandra Rhodes’ iconic screen-printed fashion, followed by Don McCullin: Broken Beauty, a powerful retrospective of the celebrated photographer.
A Life in Print runs from 24 January – 10 May 2026 and will fill the Holburne’s Ballroom with spectacular garments from the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Displayed on striking Adel Rootstein mannequins, the outfits are arranged into ‘hero print’ sections, each one highlighting a signature Zandra Rhodes design and the ways she transformed print into garment structure and shape.
After completing an MA in Printed Textiles at the Royal College of Art in 1964, Rhodes helped redefine the role of print within fashion. She founded her label in 1969 and has since produced more than 100 collections, dressing stars including Freddie Mercury, Joanna Lumley, Bianca Jagger and Princess Diana. The exhibition draws on the Zandra Rhodes Foundation archive, which holds more than 6,000 garments.
Visitors can follow an audio guide narrated by Rhodes, offering insight into the inspiration behind each print and stories connected to the pieces on display. Highlights include the yellow Buttonflower coat dress worn by Joanna Lumley in Absolutely Fabulous and a Field of Lilies ensemble worn by Bianca Jagger. The mannequins, loaned by Fashion Museum Bath, feature wigs by Linus Johansson and accessories from the Foundation archive.
Chris Stephens, Director of the Holburne, said, “We are so pleased that Zandra Rhodes is giving us the opportunity to show her designs at the Holburne. Bath, our building and gardens were built on individual style, showmanship and display and I cannot wait to see Zandra’s dresses in dialogue with the silks and embroidery in our portraits by Gainsborough and others.”
A programme of events accompanies the exhibition, including a partnership with Fashion Museum Bath and the launch of Fashion Is… Sketch Print Wear, a KS4 design challenge. Rhodes will appear live in conversation at The Forum in March 2026.
Also running at the Holburne from 30 January – 4 May 2026 is Don McCullin: Broken Beauty, an exhibition bringing together some of the most powerful images from McCullin’s seven-decade career. Known for his stark and compassionate black-and-white photographs of conflict, humanitarian crises and post-war Britain, McCullin is widely regarded as one of the world’s most influential photojournalists.
The exhibition centres on a new group of images of Roman sculptures photographed in museums around the world and shown in the UK for the first time. These ink-jet prints offer a contemplative counterpoint to McCullin’s frontline work, capturing ancient figures marked by time.
Also on display are key images from Vietnam, Biafra, Northern Ireland and Cyprus, alongside McCullin’s later landscapes and still-lives created in Somerset. Each image reflects his distinctive empathy, technical mastery and commitment to documenting humanity with honesty.
Chris Stephens said, “As well as being one of the greatest photographers of our time, Don has had life-long connections to this part of the world. We are thrilled to be showing his recent images of Roman sculpture, which offer a haunting and contemporary view of ancient art.”
