LONDON — Victoria Beckham’s next pursuit is an artistic one, and it’s happening at her London store on Dover Street.
In cooperation with Sotheby’s, Beckham is hosting the works of Yoshitomo Nara, George Condo, Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Joan Mitchell, Gerhard Richter and Yves Klein before they go under the hammer in London and New York. The art will be on display until Feb. 10.
“Art has always been a source of inspiration and over the years, I’ve so enjoyed learning and educating myself. It has the power to spark ideas, evoke emotion – and in the case of contemporary art in particular – it speaks to the world around us,” said Beckham.
Artwork by Yoshitomo Nara.
She, and her husband David Beckham, are also collectors. Beckham said “collecting is about more than just investing or acquiring beautiful objects. It’s about finding pieces that bring us real joy. The more I delve into art history and progress on my journey as a collector, the more captivated I am by it,” she added.
The couple have become regulars at art fairs, especially Art Basel in Miami.
Beckham has said that the first time she saw art up close was at Elton John’s house in the south of France.
“I remember Elton having this enormous Julian Schnabel in his dining room. The scale was just immense, and I just remember being so mesmerized by it,” WWD reported in 2023. “I feel that as I get older, art is something that I’m really enjoying with my husband, something that we’re educating ourselves about.”
Artwork by Keith Haring.
The Beckhams’ first art purchase was a piece from Schnabel’s “Sonanbul” series. Since then, their collection has grown, and now includes works by Yayoi Kusama, Nan Goldin, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Yoshitomo Nara.
One of the main artworks in Beckham’s Dover Street store is Nara’s “Cosmic Eyes.” It shows a young, wide-faced girl staring at the viewer with sparkly eyes.
“So much of this painting’s power is in its gaze. It reminds us that things are never as simple as they look. There’s a childlike innocence mixed with a real edge and an eeriness,” said the designer, adding that the muted color palette still has a sense of playfulness, something that she always tries to incorporate into her designs.
Beckham said she found much solace in the process of choosing the artworks.
Artwork by Richard Prince.
She was drawn to Basquiat’s “Red Joy” and “(Untitled),” which are also featured in the store, for their “unfiltered insight” into the artist’s creative practice.
Other works include Condo’s “Artist and Muse,” depicting Picasso and his muse, Sylvette; a piece from Richter’s abstract paintings, and Klein’s signature blue shade in “Blue Monochrome,” which the designer said is, “without a doubt, one of the most iconic colors of the 20th century. It has inspired countless other artists and designers. I think this is the epitome of what every creative strives for – an instantly recognizable visual signature.”
Haleigh Stoddard, Sotheby’s head of contemporary curations, said Beckham has an “incredible eye and a deep connection with storytelling through art and design.”
