A Massive Jim Henson Company Exhibition Is Coming To Brisbane And It’s Set To Be Pure Magic

The characters of all our childhoods are taking centrestage at Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art this year in their unprecedented exhibition exploring the magical world of The Jim Henson Company.

Opening exclusively at QAGOMA from 12 September, ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ will whisk you away on an immense and immersive journey through the creative process and stories behind some of the world’s most iconic characters that have left an indelible mark on popular culture—and our own memory lanes. 

If you’re not familiar with the name, trust us, you’re familiar with the Company’s work. Remember a little crew called the Muppets? Or the residents of Sesame Street? The Jim Henson Company had a hand (literally) in pioneering contemporary puppetry for screen and stage. Founded by Jim and Jane Henson in 1955, you also might recognise the much-loved series Fraggle Rock, the incredible fantasy worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, or productions featuring the Company’s unparalleled talent like the Academy Award-winning Babe. Simply put, this exhibition is going to be pure nostalgia at its finest. 

Image credit: Labyrinth (1986) | The Jim Henson Company

“The exhibition will be the definitive look into the craftsmanship and creativity shown across The Jim Henson Company’s many television, film and stage productions,” said exhibition curator and curatorial manager, Amanda Slack-Smith. “It will feature hundreds of objects, from practical puppets and animatronic creatures to sets, props, costumes, original drawings and moving image clips.”

Curated in close collaboration with The Jim Henson Company, the exhibition will celebrate the Company’s extraordinary legacy and highlight the specialist work of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop—creative studios in New York and Los Angeles where the magic literally happens. The exhibition will also highlight productions that have an Australian connection like the 2023 feature The Portable Door filmed in Brisbane or the fan-favourite science-fiction series Farscape filmed in Sydney. 

Image credit: Farscape (1999–2003) | The Jim Henson Company

Plus, in an epic world-first, the exhibition will feature the Great Hall set from the Emmy Award-winning series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock so you can experience behind-the-scenes of a working puppeteer’s film set. 

If this news has you wanting to hit ‘play’ all over again, make sure to visit the Gallery’s Australian Cinematheque during the exhibition period where a curated film program showcasing productions developed by the Company and Jim Henson’s work will take over the big screen. 

Image credit: Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock (2022–present) | The Jim Henson Company

“The arrival of the wild and wonderful creatures of The Jim Henson Company at GOMA will add even more kaleidoscopic colour to our state capital, delighting locals and visitors from this September,” said Minister for the Arts, John-Paul Langbroek. “With the Queensland-exclusive exhibition running through to April next year, there are plenty of opportunities for fans of all ages to behold the magic and mastery of the Company’s creations.” 

The exhibition runs from 12 September 2026 to 18 April 2027. Tickets go on sale from 1 June and you can find out more here.

For more of what’s on in Brisbane, head here.