June 11, 2026

Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World Brings Twentieth-Century Glamour to San Diego

From Vogue to Buckingham Palace, the First Exhibition Dedicated to Beaton’s Fashion and Portrait Photography Opens This July at MOPA@SDMA in Balboa Park

Cecil Beaton, The Second Age of Beauty Is Glamour (suit by Hartnell), 1946, Original color transparency, The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive, London © Condé Nast | Cecil Beaton, Cecil Beaton,1935. Gelatin silver print. The Cecil Beaton Studio Archive, London. © Condé Nast | Cecil Beaton, Best Invitation of the Season (Nina De Voe in Ballgown by Balmain), 1951. Original color transparency. The Condé Nast Archive, New York. © Condé Nast.

SAN DIEGO (June 11, 2026) – The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA) is proud to present Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World, on view July 11, 2026, through January 10, 2027. One of the twentieth century’s most creative forces, Beaton was a photographer, fashion illustrator, Oscar-winning costume designer, social caricaturist, and writer who was prominent in the British and American creative scenes. The only West Coast venue of the touring exhibition from The National Portrait Gallery, London, it is a stunning addition to The San Diego Museum of Art’s centennial year celebrations.

Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World is the first exhibition dedicated solely to his fashion and portrait photography, which he elevated into an art form. The exhibition traces Beaton’s career across several decades and creative domains, from his early work shaping the public image of the Bright Young Things, a group of artistically inclined socialites in 1920s London, to fashion photography for Vogue and other leading magazines, documentary photography during World War II, and award-winning costume and set designs for “My Fair Lady” on stage and screen. The exhibition shares more than 100 works, from the 1920s through the 1950s, across 10 exhibition sections.

Spanning London, Paris, New York, and Hollywood, the exhibition features portraits of some of the twentieth century’s most recognizable figures, including Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, and Marlon Brando; Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret; and stars of the artistic and literary worlds, among them Francis Bacon, Truman Capote, and Salvador Dalí.

“Cecil Beaton had an unparalleled ability to reveal the personality and charisma of his subjects, whether he was photographing a Hollywood star, a future queen, or a soldier,” said Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO of The San Diego Museum of Art. “This exhibition invites visitors to experience an era of extraordinary glamour and cultural transformation through the eyes of one of the twentieth century’s most versatile artists. We are thrilled to bring this to MOPA@SDMA and the San Diego community.”

Exhibition Details

Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World

  • Dates: July 11, 2026 – January 10, 2027
  • Location: Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA), 1649 El Prado, Casa de Balboa, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, 92101
  • Tickets: Members receive complimentary admission; Museum general admission tickets are required for nonmembers.

This exhibition is organized by The National Portrait Gallery, London, in collaboration with The San Diego Museum of Art. It is generously sponsored by The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation, the Lead Sponsor. Institutional support is provided by the City of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and the members of The San Diego Museum of Art.

A full-color catalogue published by The National Portrait Gallery, London, complements the exhibition and is available in the MOPA@SDMA Store.

To purchase tickets and for more information about MOPA@SDMA, visit SDMArt.org/Visit-MOPA-at-SDMA.


About The San Diego Museum of Art

Providing a rich and diverse cultural experience, The San Diego Museum of Art houses some of the world’s finest art. Located in the heart of Balboa Park, the Museum’s internationally renowned collection of more than 35,000 works—dating from 3000 BC to present day—includes Spanish and Italian old masters, the Edwin Binney 3rd Collection of South Asian paintings, East Asian art, art from the Americas, Modern and Contemporary art, and the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA). The Museum regularly features major exhibitions of art from around the world, as well as extensive cultural and community engagement programs for all ages. The San Diego Museum of Art hosts experiences that invite visitors to explore art through music, dance, film, food, and so much more. At The San Diego Museum of Art, exhibition text is always in English and Spanish.

The San Diego Museum of Art is located at 1450 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, 92101.
The Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art is located at 1649 El Prado in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA, 92101.

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