The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis celebrates Glacial Decoy

The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis unveils a landmark exhibition: Trisha Brown and Robert Rauschenberg: Glacial Decoy, on view through May 24th, 2026. This tribute to the groundbreaking 1979 work Glacial Decoy reaffirms the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis as a hub for avant-garde performance and visual art. The piece originally premiered on the Walker stage and marked a turning point in Trisha Brown’s career—her move from unconventional spaces to the theatrical proscenium.

At the heart of Glacial Decoy is the visionary collaboration between choreographer Trisha Brown and artist Robert Rauschenberg. Known for its hypnotic projections and airy, translucent costumes, Glacial Decoy established a new aesthetic dialogue between dance and image. The exhibition features the original set: 159 sequential photographs, now iconic, alongside video footage of recent performances, including a 2024 restaging by the Trisha Brown Dance Company.

Visitors will also discover rare archival materials and five stunning prints from Rauschenberg’s Rookery Mound series, enhancing the narrative of his partnership with Brown. The Trisha Brown Dance Company plays a key role in keeping this work alive, ensuring that the legacy of Glacial Decoy remains vibrant for contemporary audiences.

Curated by Brandon Eng, the exhibition is a central pillar of the Rauschenberg 100 program, which celebrates the artist’s centennial. As part of this initiative, the Trisha Brown Dance Company joins a special performance at Northrop Theater on November 11, sharing the stage with works by Merce Cunningham and other trailblazing choreographers.

Glacial Decoy remains a touchstone in the history of performance art, merging Brown’s fluid, nonlinear movement with Rauschenberg’s visual innovation. It’s a testament to the transformative power of collaboration—and to the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, which continues to champion the artists who redefine their disciplines.