HOLY POP!

In an increasingly secular world, the way we idolise pop stars, cult icons, and even fictional characters has become a modern form of devotion. HOLY POP! explores the fascinating world of contemporary shrines—the objects, collections, and spaces through which we honour our heroes.

From Prince and Princess Diana to Andy Warhol and Harry Potter’s Dobby the Elf, this exhibition uncovers how fan devotion shapes our identities and brings us together. In a fast-moving digital age, it’s a celebration of human connection, community, and the physical objects that anchor our fascination with pop culture.

Set across three rooms, HOLY POP! takes you on a journey through the different ways we express our admiration and solidarity:

• The Personal Spark: Explore the deeply intimate nature of devotion and what draws us to the figures we idolise.
• Communal Mourning: Look at how strangers come together in moments of grief to share memories and commemorate public figures.
• Domestic Shrines: Step into the intimacy of the home to see how everyday objects, fridge magnets, and carefully placed photographs create personal spaces for reflection.

The exhibition concludes with a remarkable piece of pop culture history: Nina Simone’s chewing gum.

Collected by musician Warren Ellis after her final UK concert, this tiny, everyday item became an artifact of artistic devotion (and later inspired his 2021 memoir). It perfectly captures how the things we leave behind can become sacred to the people who admire us.

HOLY POP! is curated by Tory Turk, supported by Somerset House’s Senior Curator Claire Catterall.