News: David Bowie at the V&A museum.

David Bowie is an artist whose influence has extended far beyond the sphere of rock music. As Ziggy Stardust he blew the minds of a generation with his androgyny, ambiguous sexuality and personas.

David Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust jumpsuit and hand-written lyrics are among items chosen from the singer’s vast collection of 60,000 objects set to go on public display for the first time.

Bowie, 65, gave curators at London’s Victoria and Albert museum rare access to his huge personal archive in New York for what is being billed as the first museum Bowie retrospective.

The V&A said it would explore Bowie as a musical innovator and cultural icon.

More than 60 stage costumes will be on display, including original Ziggy Stardust bodysuits from 1972 and outfits designed for his Aladdin Sane and Thin White Duke characters.

Other exhibits include the Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the Earthling album cover in 1997.

Works by such photographers as Herb Ritts, Helmut Lang, Brian Duffy and Terry O’Neill will also feature.

The exhibition will run from March 23 to July 28.