Brooklyn Museum Celebrates Bicentennial with ‘Solid Gold’ Exhibition: A Journey Through Six Millennia of Gold’s Cultural Legacy

In celebration of its 200th anniversary, the Brooklyn Museum presents Solid Gold, an unprecedented exhibition that explores humanity’s fascination with gold over six millennia of artistic expression. Opening on November 16, 2024, this remarkable showcase assembles over 400 objects, revealing the profound and multifaceted impact of gold on human creativity, culture, and history.

Curated by Matthew Yokobosky, Senior Curator of Fashion and Material Culture, alongside Catherine Futter and Lisa Small, the exhibition draws a compelling dialogue between ancient artifacts and contemporary works. The exhibition orchestrates visual juxtapositions and collisions, seamlessly bridging millennia of artistic achievement while offering a thought-provoking reflection on gold’s rich and multifaceted legacy.

The exhibition unfolds across eight meticulously designed sections, beginning with a stunning collection of antiquities, including a rare Dynasty 22 sarcophagus, which makes its public debut after a century in storage. Visitors will also encounter a magnificent Hellenistic horde of over 170 gold pieces, exemplifying the ancient world’s mastery over the precious metal. These artifacts set the stage for contemporary reinterpretations by designers such as The Blonds and Christian Dior, whose bold, modern designs reimagine the timeless allure of gold.

One of the exhibition’s most thought-provoking sections, Real Gold, delves into the environmental and human costs of gold mining. Through works like William Kentridge’s poignant 1991 film Mine, the exhibition confronts the darker side of gold's history. In contrast, Zadik Zadikian’s Path to Nine (2024) meditates on the unique material properties of gold, offering a philosophical perspective on its enduring significance.

Solid Gold also highlights the democratization of gold through innovations in fashion and textile design. The Golden Glamour section traces the evolution of gold in fashion, exploring its dual nature as both a material beauty and a symbol of divine power, wealth, and artistic mastery. One iconic example is Marc Bohan’s Aladin ensemble for Dior, a haute couture creation woven with 56% gold, which perfectly encapsulates the timeless intersection of fashion history and gold’s enduring allure.

Among the exhibition’s most extraordinary pieces is the Brooklyn Museum’s newly restored Lunar Moth baby grand piano, a 1928 masterpiece by Edward Steichen. One of only two known to exist, the piano features gilded bands and mirrored tesserae, exemplifying the marriage of functionality and artistic brilliance.

The exhibition culminates with a celebration of gold as a universal symbol of achievement. A stunning Greek gold laurel wreath—one of only four remaining—stands alongside modern awards and accolades, encapsulating gold’s role as a mark of distinction and success. The experience concludes with an immersive digital installation by teamLab, which animates waves of gold in a mesmerizing display that highlights the eternal relevance of the precious metal.

"Solid Gold will transport visitors through the many worlds of gold, its joyful, though at times heartbreaking, histories, and its innumerable luminous expressions across cultures past and present,” says Yokobosky. The exhibition’s rich tapestry of objects and themes offers a bridge between past and present, allowing visitors to experience gold as a powerful symbol that transcends time and culture.

Supported by Dior’s long-standing commitment to cultural excellence and Bank of America’s dedication to enriching the arts, Solid Gold is a celebration of gold’s enduring power to shape and reflect human achievement. Opening November 16, 2024 and running through July 6, 2025, Solid Gold offers a rare and transformative opportunity to engage with one of the most influential symbols in human history. This unparalleled exhibition invites visitors to explore how gold has shaped the trajectory of art, history, and culture, making it an unmissable experience for art lovers, history enthusiasts, and anyone captivated by the enduring power of gold.

For additional information and press materials visit brooklynmuseum.org or visit the Brooklyn Museum at 200 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, NY 11238.

(Photo: Greek. Wreath, 3rd–2nd century B.C.E. Gold. Brooklyn Museum; Gift of George D. Pratt, 26.763. Courtesy of the Brooklyn Museum)