From our beginnings as Brooklyn’s first public circulating library to the global cultural hub we are today, the Brooklyn Museum’s story has always been one of evolution and transformation. Nurtured by the freethinking spirit and creative energy of our home borough, we continuously reimagine what a museum can be. And we’re just getting started!

You’re invited!

Join us as we meet this major milestone in our journey and celebrate all year long with a lineup of special exhibitions and events. Revisit this page often to discover more in store.

SET IT OFF: Celebrating Hip-Hop 50 at the Brooklyn Museum, August 2023. (Photo: Kolin Mendez)

Birthday Bash | October 5–6, 2024: The Brooklyn Museum will kick off its anniversary celebration with a Birthday Bash, filled with programming and events that will highlight the best of the borough and mark two centuries of doing things “the Brooklyn way.” 

 

Jasmine Clarke. Olivia, 2022. Pigmented inkjet print. © Jasmine Clarke. Courtesy of the artist

The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition | October 4, 2024–January 26, 2025: As a testament to our longstanding commitment to Brooklyn’s many talented denizens, the Museum will spotlight Brooklyn artists with a major group exhibition reflecting the range of creativity in the borough.

 

Laura Wheeler Waring. Woman with Bouquet, ca. 1940. Oil on canvas. Brooklyn Museum; Brooklyn Museum Fund for African American Art in honor of Teresa A. Carbone, 2016.2. © Estate of Laura Wheeler Waring. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Toward Joy: New Frameworks for American Art | Opening October 4, 2024: How might American art be experienced at this moment? A transformative reinstallation of the American Art galleries will reorient the ways that the Brooklyn Museum exhibits—and audiences rediscover—this acclaimed collection.

 

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

Solid Gold | November 16, 2024–July 6, 2025: The majesty of gold will be explored in an immersive exhibition that combines showpieces from our collection with international loans, illuminating the ways that gold has been a symbol of beauty, honor, joy, ritual, spirituality, success, and wealth throughout history.

 

Georgia O’Keeffe. Brooklyn Bridge, 1949. Oil on Masonite. Brooklyn Museum, Bequest of Mary Childs Draper, 77.11. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Breaking the Mold: Brooklyn Museum at 200 | February 26, 2025–February 22, 2026: The Brooklyn Museum’s collection has always championed artists and artworks that catalyze imaginative storytelling and brave conversations. Featuring three chapters that boast both longtime favorites and brand-new gifts, this exhibition explores the collection’s rich history and future evolution.

 

Museum on Wheels at the Brooklyn Museum, September 2024. (Photo: Paula Abreu Pita)

Museum on Wheels | Soft launching September 2024: Conceived in partnership with the Brooklyn community, this mobile museum can pull up anywhere in Brooklyn with touchable selections from our collection of teaching objects—plus a variety of activities. Museum on Wheels is debuting as a pilot program in fall 2024, with fun and experimental features for the public to test. We’ll incorporate feedback from these early stops before our official launch in spring 2025. Throughout it all, we’ll bring intergenerational cultural programming to communities across the borough. Follow our route across Brooklyn and subscribe to our newsletters to see where Museum on Wheels is headed next!

 

(Photo: Adrianna Glaviano)

Brooklyn Icons | Now live: The Brooklyn Museum is commemorating its 200th anniversary by spotlighting 200 standout objects in its encyclopedic collection.

 

(Photo: Adrianna Glaviano)

A refreshed look | Rolling out now: On the occasion of our bicentennial, we’re launching a brand-new visual identity. Our updated look will reflect the vibrancy and innovation that have always been at the heart of who we are.

 

West wing of the Brooklyn Museum, 1898. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Our one-of-a-kind history | Now live: Why are we celebrating 200 years in 2024? The Brooklyn Apprentices’ Library Association was incorporated in 1824. It would go on to become the first public circulating library in Brooklyn—and then to evolve into the Museum we know and love today. Discover more milestones in our storied history.

 

(Image: courtesy of WNYC)

Share your Brooklyn stories | Now live: Which beloved places, standout artworks, and unforgettable people of Brooklyn inspire you the most—and why? We’re partnering with WNYC, which is celebrating its own centennial, to record your stories. We’ll share select stories on our websites, social media, and maybe even WNYC.

There’s more to come

Stay tuned for details on additional exhibitions throughout the anniversary year. A new website, food and beverage options, and exclusive merchandise will enhance the visitor experience over the coming months, marking this pivotal moment in the Museum’s history.

There’s never been a better time to become part of the Brooklyn Museum community. Follow along on social under the hashtag #BkM200 and sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss a thing. Better yet, become a Member to get insider, out-of-the-gate access to it all. 

Support #BkM200

Join us as we meet this major milestone and help us shape what the next 200 years can be! Donate today.