Victoria & David Beckham: a collection that includes Sam Taylor Wood, Banksy, and Tracey Emin

Who are Victoria & David Beckham?

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Caroline Beckham OBE, formerly known as Victoria Adams, was born on April 17, 1974, in England. She is a renowned English fashion designer, singer, and television personality. Her journey to fame began in the 1990s when she became a member of the iconic girl group, the Spice Girls, where she earned the nickname Posh Spice. The Spice Girls achieved remarkable success, selling over 100 million records worldwide, making them the best-selling female group in history.

After the Spice Girls disbanded in 2001, Beckham signed with Virgin Records and released her self-titled debut solo album, which spawned two UK Top 10 singles.

Beckham's foray into the world of documentaries and reality television includes appearances in five official productions, such as "Victoria's Secrets" (2000), "Being Victoria Beckham" (2002), "The Real Beckhams" (2003), "Victoria Beckham – A Mile In Their Shoes" (2004), and "Victoria Beckham: Coming to America" (2007). She also made a cameo on an episode of "Ugly Betty" in 2007 and served as a guest judge on shows like "Project Runway" (2008), "Germany's Next Topmodel" (2009), and "American Idol" (2010).

Beckham has achieved international recognition as a style icon and fashion designer. After successful collaborations with various brands, she launched her own eponymous fashion label in 2008, followed by a more affordable diffusion label in 2011. The Victoria Beckham label was honored as the designer brand of the year in the UK in 2011. In 2012, it was acknowledged as the standout performer among the Beckham family's business ventures. In 2011, Belinda White, writing for the Daily Telegraph, noted that Beckham's transition from a WAG (Wives and Girlfriends of footballers) to a fashion designer had exceeded most expectations. She had garnered a significant celebrity following and earned the respect of the demanding fashion industry, with her bi-annual show at New York Fashion Week becoming highly sought after.

In recognition of her contributions to the fashion industry, Beckham was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 New Year Honours.

Victoria Beckham is married to former professional footballer David Beckham, and together they have four children, including their eldest, Brooklyn. As of May 2019, the combined wealth of the couple was estimated to be around £355 million.

David Beckham

David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE, born on May 2, 1975, is a retired English professional footballer who currently serves as the president and co-owner of Inter Miami, and holds the position of co-owner at Salford City. Celebrated for his exceptional passing skills, precise crossing abilities, and mastery of bending free-kicks while playing as a right winger, Beckham stands out as one of the most prominent and instantly recognizable midfielders of his era. He is also regarded as one of the finest set-piece specialists in the history of the sport. His talents and accomplishments for both club and country have earned him praise as one of the greatest footballers in the history of Manchester United, as well as one of the most outstanding English players in the sport's history. Beckham holds the distinction of being the first English player to win league titles in four different countries: England, Spain, the United States, and France.

Beckham's professional club career commenced at Manchester United, where he made his debut for the first team in 1992 at the age of 17. During his time with the club, he secured six Premier League titles, two FA Cup victories, and notably, the UEFA Champions League trophy in 1999. Following his stint with Manchester United, Beckham spent four seasons with Real Madrid, culminating in a La Liga championship win in his final season there. In July 2007, he signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy, although he also embarked on two loan spells in Italy with AC Milan in 2009 and 2010. Beckham made history as the first British footballer to participate in 100 UEFA Champions League matches. He ultimately retired from professional football in May 2013, wrapping up a remarkable 20-year career that included winning 19 major trophies.

On the international stage, Beckham made his debut for the England national team on September 1, 1996, at the age of 21. He served as the captain for six years, earning 58 caps during his tenure. In total, he made 115 appearances for the national team, participating in three FIFA World Cup tournaments (1998, 2002, and 2006) and two UEFA European Championship tournaments (2000 and 2004). He held the record for the most appearances by an outfield player for England until 2016.

Recognized as a global ambassador for football, Beckham is regarded as a cultural icon in Britain. He was a runner-up for the Ballon d'Or in 1999, twice finished as the runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year (in 1999 and 2001), and was included in Pelé's FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players in 2004. Beckham was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008 and the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021. Since 2005, he has served as a UNICEF ambassador and in 2015, he launched the 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund.

Throughout his career, Beckham consistently ranked among the highest-earning footballers, and in 2013, he was recognized as the world's highest-paid player, having earned over $50 million in the preceding twelve months. He has been married to Victoria Beckham since 1999, and the couple has four children. In 2014, it was announced that Beckham, along with a consortium of investors, would be the owner of Inter Miami, which began competing in 2020.

The Beckham Art Collection

When the Beckham family name is rumored to be valued at more than $1 billion, one can't help but wonder about the type of art that this family embraces. Indeed, David and Victoria Beckham have made a significant impact on the art scene in London. Back in 2010, an insider revealed to the Mirror that "David, in particular, is a strong supporter of thought-provoking British art. Apart from acquiring pieces from the most prominent and renowned artists in the art world, he also actively promotes emerging, lesser-known painters." Their collection, which is said to be centered around the theme of love, features artworks by notable artists such as Sam Taylor Wood, Banksy, and a particular favorite of theirs, Tracey Emin.

Take a look at the artists that the couple has shown a keen interest in below.

Jeff Koons

When Jeff Koons presented his retrospective exhibition at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2014, Victoria wasted no time sharing her visit to New York on Instagram. David Beckham engaged Koons to create a new artwork that would represent David Beckham himself, all for the benefit of his foundation, the David Beckham Unicef Fund. As astutely noted by GQ magazine, this event "marked the next phase in Beckham's transformation: being immortalized through the medium of art."

Eddie Peake

Victoria Beckham enlisted the services of the then-emerging and now artistically represented by Jeffrey Deitch, the young British artist Eddie Peake. She tasked him with creating an installation for her Dover Street boutique.

Tracey Emin Whether it's anniversaries or birthdays, it seems that the Beckhams have a penchant for indulging in romantic expressions through works of art, courtesy of none other than Tracey Emin. As reported by the Mirror, the couple has long shared Emin's creations as a token of affection. Perhaps the deeply emotional open letter by the artist, written in 2004, played a role in fostering their ongoing support.

Andy Warhol

Victoria Beckham posted a photo on Instagram of her son Brooklyn casually leaning against the wall of London's Gagosian Gallery. At that time, the gallery was hosting an exhibition featuring works by Richard Avedon and Andy Warhol. Only time will reveal whether they made any art acquisitions during their visit.

Yayoi Kusama

In a video shared on Instagram, you can observe Victoria Beckham expressing amazement and fascination as she gazes upon Yayoi Kusama's endless array of yellow polka-dotted pumpkins at the Victoria Miro gallery in London. Beckham also took a moment to extend her appreciation to the gallery's director, Glenn Scott Wright, and his associate, Jane Suitor, expressing gratitude for their hospitality during her visit.

Damien Hirst

In honor of daughter Harper Beckham's birthday in 2014, David Beckham invested a substantial sum of £600,000 (equivalent to $780,000) to acquire a commissioned artwork titled "Daddy's Girl." The heart-shaped canvas, adorned with Damien Hirst's signature butterfly motifs, was spotted by the Daily Mail in their West London residence.

The above works are part of a collection worth nearly $44 million, which the couple are planning to make accessible to the public.

While certain artworks in their collection openly convey sentimentality, others, such as Hirst's depiction of a bull's heart pierced by scalpels, delve into the complexities and challenges of contemporary romance.

Currently, these pieces adorn the Beckhams' residences in London, Milan, and Los Angeles, but there are discussions about potentially making them available for public exhibition.

Rumors suggest that Victoria is in negotiations with a museum to present a selection of these artworks, all of which were exchanged as heartfelt gifts on special occasions.

It's worth noting that a significant portion of the Beckham's collection was acquired from The White Cube gallery in London.

Victoria Beckham art & fashion

For the inaugural Erotic Art auction held in February 2017, Sotheby's enlisted an exceptional spokesperson in the form of the Burlesque sensation, Dita Von Teese. The renowned star took center stage by introducing a selection of the items that would grace the pages of the "Erotic: Passion & Desire" catalog, all in a captivating video presentation.

Fast forward to 2018, and it was the maison's choice to have Victoria Beckham as the face of their presentation for a collection of prized lots from the Old Master Paintings auction in London. These artistic treasures found their initial home in Beckham's upscale boutique situated on Dover Street, nestled in the heart of Mayfair. Subsequently, they made their way to the illustrious setting of Sotheby's on Bond Street. Posh Spice herself meticulously curated a collection of 16 portraits, with the deliberate aim of juxtaposing the timeless allure of the Old Masters with the contemporary ambiance of her boutique.

In reflecting on this collaborative endeavor, Beckham articulated, "Last year, I had the opportunity to make my maiden voyage to the Frick Collection in New York, an experience that truly enlightened me about the world of Old Masters. Since that moment, my passion for this genre has flourished. The privilege of displaying Sotheby's masterpieces within my store is nothing short of a dream realized. I earnestly hope that their presence in this modern environment will be as inspiring for my customers as it is for me."

Dover Street's boutique, characterized by its pristine white walls and gleaming polished concrete floors, was conceived by the esteemed architect Farshid Moussavi. Established in 2015, the space has played host to a diverse array of artistic projects, collaborating with luminaries like Turner Prize winner Martin Creed, Eddie Peake, and Emily Young. Sotheby's three-tiered exhibition within the boutique represents the first instance of antique paintings gracing its walls.