From groundbreaking early acquisitions to striking new additions, the Brooklyn Museum’s collection has always championed artists and artworks that catalyze imaginative storytelling and brave conversations. As we ring in our 200th anniversary, Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200 celebrates this unique legacy. Comprising three chapters that boast both longtime favorites and brand-new standouts, the exhibition brings fresh narratives to the fore while exploring the collection’s rich history and future evolution.
Brooklyn Made is an homage to art and design created in the borough from the 17th century to today. Beginning with a Delaware bandolier bag that acknowledges the land’s original inhabitants, this chapter journeys through time to spotlight works by active Brooklyn artists such as Duke Riley, Rashid Johnson, Tourmaline, and Thaddeus Wolfe. Building the Brooklyn Museum and Its Collection features transformational artworks and archival materials that trace the development of the collection as well as the Beaux-Arts building that houses it.