Make, Believe, Magic: The Jim Henson Company Comes to Life in Brisbane

Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company

Brisbane is preparing to enter a world of imagination, creativity and extraordinary puppetry when the world-first exhibition Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company opens at the Gallery of Modern Art from 12 September 2026 to 18 April 2027.

Celebrating 70 years of The Jim Henson Company, the exclusive Brisbane exhibition brings together an extraordinary collection of puppets, creatures, costumes, props, drawings and moving-image material. It offers visitors an unprecedented opportunity to explore the creative worlds behind some of the most beloved characters in entertainment history.

A Journey Through 70 Years of Imagination

Across three major exhibition spaces, Make, Believe, Magic explores the evolution of The Jim Henson Company and its pioneering approach to puppetry, creature design, animatronics and visual storytelling.

Visitors can discover the worlds of Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and other celebrated productions, while seeing how imaginative characters were developed and brought to life.

The exhibition features hundreds of objects, giving audiences an insight into the craftsmanship and creative processes that have helped make Jim Henson's work internationally recognised.

Meet the Characters Behind the Magic

Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds
of The Jim Henson Company

For generations of audiences, The Jim Henson Company has created characters that have become part of popular culture.

The exhibition provides opportunities to encounter creations associated with Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and other productions, revealing the artistry behind the characters rather than simply presenting them as finished screen creations.

A major highlight is the opportunity to walk among sets from the Emmy Award-winning Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, while a giant Landstrider puppet from The Dark Crystal provides another spectacular encounter with Henson's extraordinary creature-making traditions.

A Hands-On Experience for Families

Make, Believe, Magic is designed to inspire visitors of different ages, with the Sock Puppet Studio providing a hands-on opportunity to explore puppetry and character creation.

Operating daily during Queensland state school holidays, the activity invites visitors to become builders and performers, using ordinary materials to create their own characters inspired by techniques associated with The Jim Henson Company.

The exhibition therefore offers more than a traditional museum experience, encouraging visitors to discover the imagination, creativity and practical skills behind puppetry.

Cinema Brings the Worlds to the Screen

Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds
of The Jim Henson Company

The Jim Henson experience continues beyond the exhibition galleries with three accompanying cinema programs at the Australian Cinémathèque at GOMA.

Screened to be Believed: The Jim Henson Company, Where the Wild Things Are Made: Jim Henson's Creature Shop and Beyond Henson: Puppetry and World Cinema explore the company's influence and the wider history of puppetry and creature design.

The cinema programs run from 12 September 2026 to 18 April 2027, with free screenings on selected days.

Plan a Brisbane Cultural Escape

Make, Believe, Magic provides another compelling reason to visit Brisbane, combining art, popular culture, design, film and family entertainment in one major exhibition.

Advance booking is recommended, with timed-entry tickets available for the exhibition.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art

Website: www.qagoma.qld.gov.au
Email: events.plus@qagoma.qld.gov.au
Phone: +61 (0)7 3840 7303
Address: Stanley Place, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia
Exhibition dates: 12 September 2026 to 18 April 2027.

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