glitter sparkles at museum für kunst und gewerbe exhibition
The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MK&G) presents GLITTER, the world’s first museum exhibition dedicated entirely to the shimmering, controversial material. On view until October 26th, 2025, the show unpacks the symbolic power of glitter across art, design, pop culture, and activism, featuring around 40 international artists and designers who use it as a means for empowerment, self-expression, and resistance.
From drag culture to feminist protests, from teenage bedrooms to high fashion, glitter permeates diverse social and cultural contexts. The exhibition explores its transformative potential through six thematic chapters, with highlights including a sparkling teen room installation by visual artist Jenny Schäfer, protest photography by Mirjana Mitrovic and Mercedes Grassi King, and a dazzling collection of wigs, stage costumes, and nail art. Among the featured works, curated by Nina Lucia Groß and Dr. Julia Meer, are a stage outfit worn by Bill Kaulitz of Tokio Hotel, skateboard designs by American artist Mickalene Thomas, and digital pieces by Molly Soda.
Gisela Vola, Untitled, from the series “Marea Verde”, 2018 © Gisela Vola
from cleopatra to queer nightlife: the material’s history
Through the GLITTER exhibition, the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg offers a shimmering lens through which visitors can explore identity, politics, and artistic expression—ensuring that no one leaves without a little sparkle of their own. A central highlight arrives in June 2025, when the Turkish-Belgian duo :mentalKLINIK presents Puff Out, an installation where robotic vacuum cleaners navigate a 300-square-meter space, scattering and collecting fuschia glitter at the same time. Known for their playful and provocative work, the artists turn the floor into an ever-changing canvas.
Beyond the dazzling aesthetics, GLITTER interrogates the cultural and political weight of the material. Visitors will discover glitter’s role in historical rituals, queer nightlife, and social movements, as well as its use in fine art and contemporary design. The show also doesn’t shy away from the environmental debate—exploring the impact of microplastics and spotlighting biodegradable alternatives used by forward-thinking artists and designers. The exhibition invites active participation, encouraging visitors to contribute personal glitter stories, submit objects for display, and design their own sparkling creations in a DIY space. A historical timeline traces the journey of the material from Cleopatra’s cosmetics to contemporary debates on its environmental impact, including its presence in music, fashion, and digital culture.
‘Glitter represents the joy of a diverse society, offering a sense of belonging and visibility,’ states Tulga Beyerle, director of MK&G, describing glitter as a material that embodies inclusivity and celebration. ‘This exhibition is about much more than aesthetics—it’s about identity, resistance, and cultural expression.’
The Huxleys, Style Over Substance, 2021, Video still © The Huxleys
Fuegonails, Iconic Iconography, 2024 | image by Regine Eurydike Hader © Fuegonails
Fleur Stiels, Holy Glitter Zine ‘Girls’, 2017 © Fleur Stiels
Quil Lemons from the series ‘Glitterboy’, 2017 © Quil Lemons
:mentalKLINIK, Puff Out, 2018 | image by Ozge Balkan © :mentalKLINIK
Pansy St. Battie, model and burlesque performer | image by Xenia Curdova © Pansy St. Battie
Hannah Altman, Untitled VII, from the series ‘And Everything Nice’ 2015 © Hannah Altman
My first CD player, 2019, Clara Mavie, age 10, Hamburg | image by MK&G/Roman Mishchuk
the world’s first museum exhibition dedicated entirely to glitter
glitter permeates diverse social and cultural contexts
the exhibition explores the transformative potential of the material through six thematic chapters
project info:
name: Glitter
artists: mentalKLINIK (Belgium / Turkey) | @mentalklinik, Damali Abrams (USA) | @damaliabrams, Hannah Altmann (USA) | @hannahaltman, Sophia Bizer (Germany) | @epistemische_dinge, Chila Kumari Singh Burman (UK) | @chilaburman, Rafa BQueer (Brazil) | @rafabqueer, Dean and Dan Caten (Canada) | @dsquared2, T.L. Cowan (Canada), María Domínguez Moreno / Doodlelingyou (Spain) | @doodlelingyou, Sarah Drath (Germany) | @ms.gashi, Karl Gadzali and Mohamad Barakat-Götz (Germany) | @barakat.wigs, Cao Guimarães and Rivane Neuenschwander (Brazil), Regine Eurydike Hader (Germany), The Huxleys (Australia) | @garretthuxley, Bill Kaulitz (Germany / USA) | @billkaulitz, Mercedes Grassi King (Argentina) | @mercedes.gk, Quil Lemons (USA) | @quillemons, Mirjana Mitrovic (Germany), Andrés Pérez (Venezuela), Sam Reece / Shitty Craft Club (USA) | @shittycraftclub, Jenny Schäfer (Germany) | @thisisjennyschaefer, Molly Soda (USA) | @bloatedandalone4evr1993, Pansy St. Battie (USA) | @pansystbattie, Fleur Stiels / Holy Glitter Zine (Netherlands) | @holyglitterzine, Fiona Tretau / The Propcorner (Germany) | @thepropcorner, Lorenzo Triburgo | @lorenzotriburgo and Sarah Van Dyck (USA), Gisela Volá (Argentina) | @giselavola and others.
nail artists: 3rzhuobabypink (China) | @3rzhuobabypink, Peggy Chen (Taiwan), ckdesignedit (USA) | @ckdesignedit, Dracula Nails (Hungary) | @draculanails, Franziska Unger / Franzischek (Germany) | @franzischek, Natasha Blake / Fuego Nails (UK) | @fuegonailsldn, Reina Takano / hitomebore (Japan) | @reina.tokyonailart, Keele Ma’llo / Honeybabysets (Canada) | @honeybabysets, Afa/Soppi / isla Berlin (Germany) | @islaberlin, Louise Corbert / Nettle Nails (USA) | @byjuanalvear, Anna Sancho Barbera / Pannkks (Spain) | @pannkks, Minki Warhol / Sex Nails (Germany) | @minkiwarhol, Thams Does Claws (Germany) | @thams.does.claws, Citlali Guetierrez / unitas_f3ass (USA) | @unitas_f3ass, Britney Tokyo (USA) | @britneytokyo, Maria Vanails (Greece) | @mariavinails, Zaira Vega (Mexico) | @nailsbyzaiv
curators: Nina Lucia Groß, Dr. Julia Meer
venue: Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg (MK&G) | @mkghamburg
location: Hamburg, Germany
dates: 28 February to 26 October 2025
exhibition design (764)
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