Take the wrapping off that new 2026 diary as l have a few artistic dates to add to it!
The Holburne Museum has announced it is presenting Zandra Rhodes: A Life in Print, a vibrant celebration of one of Britain’s most influential fashion designers. This dazzling exhibition, opening on January 24th, brings together a spectacular selection of Dame Zandra Rhodes’ screen-printed garments from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, shown as complete ensembles on vintage Adel Rootstein mannequins.
Known for her fearless use of colour, signature prints and sculptural silhouettes, Dame Zandra Rhodes has redefined the role of print in fashion for more than six decades. This exhibition explores the stories behind some of her most iconic designs, arranged into themed ‘hero print’ sections that reveal how Rhodes translated her motifs into unforgettable garments.
This exhibition brings together key garments from the Zandra Rhodes Foundation archive, an extraordinary collection of over 6,000 pieces, selected in close collaboration with Curator Rosemary Harden and Foundation Director Piers Atkinson.
Visitors will also enjoy an audio tour narrated by Zandra Rhodes herself, sharing the stories, inspirations and memories behind her most iconic prints, from travel sketches to cultural influences and famous wearers.
⭐ Zandra Rhodes: A Life in Print
on show daily | 10 am–5 pm
Opening 24 January – 10 May
Meanwhile, as legendary photographer Sir Don McCullin turns 90, the Holburne is proud to present Broken Beauty, the first UK exhibition of his most recent body of work, striking, intimate studies of Roman sculpture captured in museums across the world.
Sir Don McCullin is one of the most influential photographers of the last sixty years, renowned for his powerful black-and-white images documenting conflict, humanitarian crises, poverty and post-war Britain. Alongside these defining works, McCullin has created equally compelling landscapes, portraits and still-lifes, all characterised by an extraordinary sensitivity and depth.
At the heart of Broken Beauty is a remarkable collection of McCullin’s latest photographs of ancient Roman statues. Never before shown in the UK, they offer visitors a rare opportunity to experience a new and contemplative side of McCullin’s practice.
on show daily | 10 am-5 pm
Opening 30 January – 3 May
❤️The Shape of Care: Making Care Visible
on show daily | 10 am–5 pm
Opening 24 January – 4 May
The Shape of Care presents a remarkable body of work created through Pathways to Wellbeing, our community engagement programme that places art and creativity at its core.
Over the past year, our Pathways community has turned its attention to care — its presence and absence, the moments in which it is given or received, and the ways it can be felt, witnessed, or made visible through making. This collective exploration invites visitors to consider where care lives in our daily routines and how it shapes our sense of belonging.
Presented as a series of deeply personal responses, the display celebrates the quiet strength of everyday acts of care. These are the gestures often overlooked or unnamed: the patient attentiveness, the thoughtful exchanges, and the small yet sustaining actions that connect us to one another. Together, they reveal a powerful creative language through which care is expressed, noticed, and shared.
This exhibition marks the third Holburne showcase of work from our creative community and highlights our belief in the powerful relationship between art, creativity, and personal and social wellbeing. It reflects the museum’s commitment to championing practices in which care is embedded in every interaction — with our visitors, the artists and groups we collaborate with, and the volunteers and staff who support our work.
The work is the result of collaborations between members of the Gardener’s Lodge Art Group, IMAGE Group, Happy Mondays, artists and creative facilitators, museum volunteers and staff involved in our Pathways to Wellbeing Programme.
on show daily | 10 am-5 pm
EVENTS
📷Don McCullin in Conversation with Mariella Frostrup
Tuesday 17 March | 7pm at The Forum | £26
Step into the world of one of photography’s true titans. As Don McCullin celebrates his 90th year, the Holburne proudly presents Don McCullin: Broken Beauty, an extraordinary exhibition of the legendary photojournalist. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime evening with Don McCullin in conversation with acclaimed broadcaster, arts champion and long-standing friend Mariella Frostrup.
⭐Zandra Rhodes in Conversation with Rosemary Harden
Wednesday 18 March | 7pm at The Forum | £26
Step into a kaleidoscope of colour, creativity, and couture as fashion legend Dame Zandra Rhodes takes the stage for an unforgettable evening of conversation and storytelling. In dialogue with Rosemary Harden, Curator of A Life in Print, esteemed dress curator, this live event promises an intimate glimpse into the mind of one of Britain’s most trailblazing designers.
Sunday 1 February | 8.15-9.30am | £10
The Holburne will host a powerful and symbolic Cold Plunge Event in partnership with Ice Breakers and the ReBalance Bath Festival of Wellbeing. Members of Ice Breakers will take a dawn dip in the museum’s historic grounds to spotlight the growing movement around cold-water immersion and its benefits for mental and physical wellbeing. The event will then open to members of the public who wish to take a cold plunge on a Sunday morning.
WORKSHOPS
⭐ ReBalance Bath Kintsugi Workshop
Sunday 8 March | 11am and 2pm | £33
