Edited by Johanna Agerman Ross, Matthieu Orlean, Lucia Savi. Text by Johanna Agerman Ross, Matthieu Orlean, Lucia Savi, Leanne Shapton, Vincent Maluasa, Hadeel Eltayeb, Glenn Adamson, Nicolas Saada. Conversations with Wes Anderson, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Jeffrey Wright, Roman Coppola, Milena Canonero, Jason Schwartzman, Alexandre Desplat, Ralph Fiennes. Photographs by Laura Wilson, James Hamilton, Roger do Minh, Richard Round-Turner.
An exclusive look at one of the 21st century's most iconic and distinctive American filmmakers, replete with archival materials and contributions from beloved Hollywood voices
An archive is always a time machine, but the archives of Wes Anderson take us on a journey not just through time, but through layers of stories and the experiences of storytelling—on paper and on film. This volume chronicles these stories with a deep dive into Anderson's personal archive, celebrating his 30-plus years in cinema. From the start of his career, he has maintained a rich library of notebooks, drawings, paintings, Polaroids, props, puppets, sets and costumes from his films. Presented here, these objects are enhanced and illuminated by Anderson's long-time collaborators, including actors Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton; composer Alexandre Desplat; musician Seu Jorge; and music supervisor Randall Poster. The book also features an extensive interview with Anderson himself, reflecting on his films and working process. Wes Anderson: The Archives accompanies the first retrospective exhibition of Anderson's work, curated by La Cinémathèque française in Paris and the Design Museum in London. It is the first book to be produced in such close partnership with the filmmaker himself. Wes Anderson, born in 1969 in Houston, Texas, is a renowned American filmmaker celebrated for his unique visual style, quirky characters and whimsical storytelling. His most notable works include The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and The French Dispatch (2021). Anderson has received numerous awards, including the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for The Grand Budapest Hotel, as well as multiple Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards.
Promotional poster for 'Bottle Rocket' (short). Photograph by Richard Round-Turner.
PRAISE AND REVIEWS
The New York Times
Alex Marshall
[The exhibition] shows how thousands of small decisions add up to make the director’s signature style.
Artnet
Jo Lawson-Tancred
With access to Anderson’s personal archives, the show’s curators have picked out more than 600 items—including costumes, props, personal notes, and paintings—that offer an unprecedented, behind the scenes glimpse into his creative process.
Wallpaper*
Tianna Williams
The exhibition journeys through all of the films, every one unique, yet together entirely cohesive and notably ‘Wes’.
Design Milk
Aria Lee
[An] intimate look at some of the papers and props from some of our favorite films, shedding light on the process and the man behind the lens.
designboom
Kat Barandy
These artifacts all together illuminate Anderson’s devotion to detail and design, and show how his handmade sensibility and visual precision have shaped a whimsical and deeply human cinematic universe.
AnOther Magazine
Daisy Woodward
Fans of Wes Anderson will delight in the Design Museum’s upcoming show: the first retrospective of the Texan auteur, conceived in collaboration with la Cine?mathe?que franc?aise.
Wallpaper*
Emily Steer
The show is an in-depth ode to hands-on filmmaking, and a welcome antidote to our CGI and AI age.
The Boston Globe
Mark Feeney
God may or may not be in the details, but Anderson and his movies definitely are. He has an eye for detail so thorough and exacting — so unblinking — it becomes a sensibility.
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Wes Anderson: The Archives—the first major museum retrospective of the iconic American filmmaker’s output—is on view now at The Design Museum in London, and we are thrilled to distribute the catalog, a new release this week. Drawn from Anderson’s personal archive, amassed over thirty years of groundbreaking films known for their inimitable aesthetic and sense of humor, this exhibition contains everything from props, sets and costumes to notebooks, drawings, Polaroids and paintings. Featuring contributions from more than a dozen of Anderson’s collaborators, including Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Roman Coppola and Jason Schwartzman, it is the first book to be produced in close partnership with Anderson. Pictured here, Steve Zissou’s Adidas shoes and red hat from The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004); photographs by James Hamilton of Anderson, Anjelica Huston and Owen Wilson on the set of The Royal Tenenbaums (2001); and Anderson’s notebooks from Moonrise Kingdom (2012) and The French Dispatch (2021). continue to blog
FORMAT: Pbk, 8.25 x 10.5 in. / 296 pgs / 200 color / 50 b&w. LIST PRICE: U.S. $45.00 LIST PRICE: CANADA $64 ISBN: 9781872005843 PUBLISHER: The Design Museum AVAILABLE: 12/9/2025 DISTRIBUTION: D.A.P. RETAILER DISC: TRADE PUBLISHING STATUS: Active AVAILABILITY: In stock TERRITORY: NA ONLY
Published by The Design Museum. Edited by Johanna Agerman Ross, Matthieu Orlean, Lucia Savi. Text by Johanna Agerman Ross, Matthieu Orlean, Lucia Savi, Leanne Shapton, Vincent Maluasa, Hadeel Eltayeb, Glenn Adamson, Nicolas Saada. Conversations with Wes Anderson, Scarlett Johansson, Tilda Swinton, Jeffrey Wright, Roman Coppola, Milena Canonero, Jason Schwartzman, Alexandre Desplat, Ralph Fiennes. Photographs by Laura Wilson, James Hamilton, Roger do Minh, Richard Round-Turner.
An exclusive look at one of the 21st century's most iconic and distinctive American filmmakers, replete with archival materials and contributions from beloved Hollywood voices
An archive is always a time machine, but the archives of Wes Anderson take us on a journey not just through time, but through layers of stories and the experiences of storytelling—on paper and on film. This volume chronicles these stories with a deep dive into Anderson's personal archive, celebrating his 30-plus years in cinema. From the start of his career, he has maintained a rich library of notebooks, drawings, paintings, Polaroids, props, puppets, sets and costumes from his films. Presented here, these objects are enhanced and illuminated by Anderson's long-time collaborators, including actors Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson and Tilda Swinton; composer Alexandre Desplat; musician Seu Jorge; and music supervisor Randall Poster. The book also features an extensive interview with Anderson himself, reflecting on his films and working process.
Wes Anderson: The Archives accompanies the first retrospective exhibition of Anderson's work, curated by La Cinémathèque française in Paris and the Design Museum in London. It is the first book to be produced in such close partnership with the filmmaker himself.
Wes Anderson, born in 1969 in Houston, Texas, is a renowned American filmmaker celebrated for his unique visual style, quirky characters and whimsical storytelling. His most notable works include The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), Moonrise Kingdom (2012), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) and The French Dispatch (2021). Anderson has received numerous awards, including the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for The Grand Budapest Hotel, as well as multiple Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards.
