The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited installation at The Museum of Pop Culture, photo by Jim Bennett. Kermit the Frog © Muppets/Disney. Jim Henson © The Jim Henson Company.
June 1–September 2, 2018
This exhibition was on view at the Skirball
June 1–September 2, 2018
The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited explored the imaginative world of Jim Henson (1936–1990) and his groundbreaking approach to puppetry and transformative impact on contemporary culture.
Through more than 100 objects and twenty-five historic puppets—including Kermit the Frog, Rowlf, Ernie and Bert, Grover, and other popular favorites—The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited illuminated Henson’s unique contributions to the moving image. Along with a talented team of designers, performers, and writers, Henson created an unparalleled body of work that continues to delight and inspire people of all ages to create a kinder and gentler world.
The exhibition featured Henson’s enduringly popular productions—from The Muppet Show, the Muppet movies, and Sesame Street to Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, and Labyrinth—through character sketches, storyboards, scripts, photographs, costumes, film and television clips, and behind-the-scenes footage. Visitors also designed their own puppets and tried puppeteering in this highly interactive exhibition.
The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited is a traveling exhibition organized by Museum of the Moving Image (Astoria, New York) in cooperation with The Jim Henson Company, The Muppets Studio, and Sesame Workshop, and toured worldwide by Flying Fish. The exhibition features puppets and other objects donated to the Museum by the family of Jim Henson, plus works on loan from The Jim Henson Company archives as well as from private lenders.
Museum of the Moving Image would like to thank the George Lucas Family Foundation and Cheryl Henson for helping to make the touring show possible.
Jim Henson's universe: Muppets, 'Sesame Street,' Fraggles and more, all in one traveling exhibition
Los Angeles Times | June 4, 2018
Skirball's Jim Henson Exhibit Will Satisfy and Surprise Even the Most Die-Hard Muppet Fan
LA Weekly | May 31, 2018
Historic Muppets and Other Jim Henson Artifacts Move Into the Skirball
Los Angeles magazine | May 30, 2018
The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited
TimeOut Los Angeles | March 29, 2018
Press Release: The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited
March 29, 2018
The exhibition and its related educational programs at the Skirball Cultural Center are made possible in part by generous support from the following donors:
Cheryl Henson
The Jane Henson Foundation
Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Rebecca and Kris Lythgoe
Specialty Family Foundation
Lannette and Scott Turicchi