{
  "id": 6692735,
  "title": "In need of the warm and fuzzies? Joyous exhibition celebrates 70 years of the Muppets and the genius of Jim Henson",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/11/in-need-of-the-warm-and-fuzzies-joyous-exhibition-celebrates-70-years",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-11T03:00:53.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Guardian Australia",
    "slug": "the-guardian-australia",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/ng-interactive/2026/sep/11/jim-henson-muppets-exhibition-brisbane-qagoma-make-believe-magic"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a joyous exhibition celebrating the 70-year history of the Muppets and the genius of Jim Henson, visitors are greeted with Elmo, Big Bird, and the massive Mr. Snuffleupagus. At Queensland's Gallery of Modern Art (Goma), the show has become a highlight, with many staff members remarking on the sheer size of the puppets. Curator Amanda Slack-Smith explains that visitors can try their hand at puppeteering, experiencing the craft firsthand. The exhibition, spanning three realms over Goma's entire ground floor, showcases more than 500 objects, ranging from puppets, props, and costumes to photos, sketches, storyboards, and more, sourced from the Jim Henson Company's extensive archive and other US institutions. Occupying the entire ground floor, the exhibition is divided into three realms, focusing on the making, performance, and possibilities of puppetry. From well-known characters like Grover and Elmo to lesser-known monsters, several puppets have never been displayed before in the US. Highlights include the massive 13-foot Snuffleupagus and the entire set of Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, a 2022 reboot of Henson's original 1980s series. The exhibition also explores the animatronic innovations of Jim Henson's Creature Shop, with many of the pieces stripped back to expose their inner workings. The curator emphasizes that puppeteering is an ancient art form integral to storytelling and allows for deep conversations while maintaining a sense of relaxation. Despite the absence of some headlining Muppets owned by Disney, the exhibition remains comprehensive, reaffirming that human creativity and craftsmanship remain essential to impactful art.",
  "summary": "Make, Believe, Magic show at Goma stars Elmo, Big Bird and the massive Mr Snuffleupagus – and gives visitors the chance to try their hand at puppeteering It’s said that celebrities are often shorter than you might expect when you encounter them in person. The opposite is true of the Muppets. “That’s the quote of this show,” says Amanda Slack-Smith, curator at Queensland’s Gallery of Modern Art…",
  "key_points": [
    "Muppets exhibition opens at Queensland's Gallery of Modern Art",
    "Show features 500+ artifacts from Henson's archive",
    "Highlights include 13-foot Snuffleupagus and Fraggle Rock set"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The exhibition reaffirms the enduring appeal of the Muppets and Jim Henson's creative legacy, allowing visitors to engage with the art of puppetry and appreciate its role in storytelling.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}