Golden Elegance

The Brooklyn Museum opens its doors to a dazzling new exhibition, Solid Gold, running from November 16th, 2024, to July 6th, 2025. This shimmering showcase transforms the Morris A. and Meyer Schapiro Wing and the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Gallery into a treasure trove of over 500 works, celebrating the multifaceted allure of gold across time and cultures. The exhibition aligns with the museum’s 200th anniversary, underscoring its legacy of artistic excellence.

Solid Gold traces the historical and cultural significance of the metal, exploring its symbolic meanings—from beauty and wealth to ritual and spirituality. The exhibition pairs masterpieces from the museum’s vast collection with striking international loans, creating a dialogue between ancient artifacts and modern creations. Among the highlights are 13th- and 14th-century Italian gold-ground paintings and intricate Japanese screens, juxtaposed with contemporary couture and jewelry.

One standout piece is a gold-foil gown from Balenciaga’s Spring 2020 collection, designed by Demna, epitomizing how gold continues to inspire the fashion world. Another centerpiece is a sarcophagus lid from Egypt’s 22nd Dynasty, making its first public appearance in over a century. The exhibition also spotlights couture designs by Yves Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, and The Blonds, celebrating the metal’s enduring allure in high fashion.

Jewelry enthusiasts will marvel at works by Cartier, Alexander Calder, and Gabby Elan, including a rare prototype necklace worn by Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. Meanwhile, the exhibition invites reflection on gold’s darker legacies, examining the environmental and human costs of its extraction.

Organized into eight thematic sections, Solid Gold bridges the ancient and contemporary, offering a glittering feast for the eyes while sparking meaningful conversations about the legacy and impact of this captivating element. Visitors will leave immersed in a celebration of gold’s enduring power to enchant and inspire.