04
Transformative creativity
Although best known for his music, Bowie explored many creative practices. Over six decades, he created relentlessly, from songwriting and recording, to acting in theatre and films, as well as drawing and painting.
Bowie’s creativity transcended genres, and he is an inspiration for being yourself regardless
of others’ opinions. He was unafraid of failure, confronting rejection and criticism throughout his career with unwavering determination. Bowie never gave up.
Written by: Madeleine Haddon, Senior Curator, V&A East
Published: September 2025
- Museum Number
- LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.1123:1 to 13-2024
- Description
- Guitar
- Artist/Maker
- Matth. Hohner AG - Hohner
- Location and Date
- Korea, 1985
- Materials/Techniques
- Plastic, Metal, Paper, Printing ink, Card, Wood, Pearl, Leather, Machine stitching, Moulding, Casting, Typing, Printing, Cutting
- Museum Number
- LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.2133:1 to 36-2024
- Description
- Synthesizer
- Artist/Maker
- EMS (Electronic Music Studios)
- Location and Date
- Great Britain, 1970s
- Materials/Techniques
- Plastic, Metal, Wood, Tape, Moulding, Casting, Assembling, Printing, Handwriting
- Museum Number
- LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.2036:1,2-2024
- Description
- Crystal Ball
- Location and Date
- Great Britain, 1985
- Materials/Techniques
- Metal, Glass, Engraving, Carving, Moulding, Blowing
- Museum Number
- S.301:1 to 3-2024
- Description
- Costume
- Artist/Maker
- Alexander McQueen
- Location and Date
- Great Britain, 1996
- Materials/Techniques
- Cotton, Linen, Lace, Metal, Plastic, Canvas, Satin, Wax, Machine-sewing, Hand-sewing
- Museum Number
- LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.2584-2024
- Description
- Self portrait (Mustique)
- Artist/Maker
- Bowie, David
- Location and Date
- United States of America, 2002
- Materials/Techniques
- Printing ink, Paper, Wood, Mat board, Glass, Tape, Lithography, Framing
- Museum Number
- LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.2528:1, 2-2024
- Description
- Painting tools
- Artist/Maker
- Daler Rowney
- Location
- Japan
- Materials/Techniques
- Wood, Metal, Hair, Paint, Ink, Plastic, Moulding, Casting, Carving, Painting, Glueing
- Museum Number
- LOAN:AMERICASFOUNDATION.780-2024
- Description
- Award
- Location and Date
- Great Britain, 2016
- Materials/Techniques
- Metal, Fabric, Plate, Casting, Plating, Glueing
- Reference Code
- DBA/TEMP/34
- Title/Description
- Oblique Strategies cards
- Archive Department
- Theatre and Performance
- Date
- ca. 1977
- Materials/Techniques
- Deck of printed cards created by Brian Eno and Peter Schmidt. Also contains an Ex Libris card belongng to Bowie, and a card containing brief handwritten notes about verses. These cards were used in the recording of the album <i>"Heroes"</i>.
- Reference Code
- DBA/TEMP/53
- Title/Description
- Photograph of David Bowie as Andy Warhol
- Archive Department
- Theatre and Performance
- Date
- 1995
- Materials/Techniques
- Photograph on the set of the film Basquiat, directed by Julian Schnabel. The photograph shows David Bowie in character as Andy Warhol with Jeffrey Wright as Basquiat on his left. Photographer unknown.
- Reference Code
- DBA/TEMP/142
- Title/Description
- Illustration for 'Blackstar' music video
- Archive Department
- Theatre and Performance
- Date
- 2015
- Materials/Techniques
- Storyboard drawing for 'Blackstar' music video drawn by David Bowie using pen. Illustration features the head of a person wearing a bandage around their head with two buttons sewn on in place of eyes. 'Button eyes 2.' is written at the top of the page. Verso features pencil illustrations of dogs.
- Reference Code
- DBA/TEMP/8
- Title/Description
- Reference letter for David Jones
- Archive Department
- Theatre and Performance
- Date
- ca. 1964 - 1966
- Materials/Techniques
- Reference letter written by Bowie's father Haywood S. Jones referring to his son by his birth name, David Jones.
- Reference Code
- DBA/TEMP/4
- Title/Description
- Letter from Apple Records to Ken Pitt
- Archive Department
- Theatre and Performance
- Date
- 03 Dec 1998
- Materials/Techniques
- Fax copy of a letter advising Ken Pitt of Kenneth Pitt Management that Apple Records is not interested in signing David Bowie. Signed by Peter Asher, Head of A&R for Apple Records.
- Reference Code
- DBA/TEMP/120
- Title/Description
- Photograph of David Bowie recording Heathen
- Archive Department
- Theatre and Performance
- Date
- 2001
- Materials/Techniques
- Colour photograph of David Bowie sitting in front of a keyboard at Allaire Studios. Photograph taken by Tony Visconti.
- Reference Code
- DBA/TEMP/57
- Title/Description
- Photograph of David Bowie by Jojanneke Claassen
- Archive Department
- Theatre and Performance
- Date
- ca. 1969
- Materials/Techniques
- David Bowie in Amsterdam. Davie Bowie is sat crossed legged playing guitar. There is an inscription on the back which reads "1968/69 Space Oddity (same time as the original album sleeve for Mercury Records)."