from feminist protests to pop icons, MK&G's glitter show explores self-expression in sparkle

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

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

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Latin dance competition dress, 2004, Katharina Prohl, age 35, Hamburg | image by MK&G/Roman Mishchuk

Burlesque butterly top, 2019, Martina Lu, age 36, Prague | image by MK&G/Roman Mishchuk

Oops, I did it again, 2018, Hatice Açıkgöz, age 30 | image by MK&G/Roman Mishchuk

Karl Gadzali and Mohamad Barakat-Götz, Crystal Baroque, 2024 © Karl Gadzali and Mohamad Barakat-Götz

highlights include a dazzling collection of wigs, stage costumes, and nail art

offering a shimmering lens through which visitors can explore identity, politics, and artistic expression

from teenage bedrooms to high fashion, glitter permeates diverse social and cultural contexts

the exhibition invites active participation

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

the show also doesn’t shy away from the environmental debate

the show unpacks the symbolic power of glitter

featuring around 40 international artists and designers

encouraging visitors to contribute personal glitter stories

a historical timeline traces the journey of the material

 

 

Joy mill, 2014, Maximiliane Schmid aka Wondering Woman, Berlin | image by MK&G/Roman Mishchuk

Diamond phone, 2021, Hanna Roxane Scherwinski | image by MK&G/Roman Mishchuk

Glitter unicorn, 2019, Mathilda, age 7 image by MK&G/Roman Mishchuk

Glitter rocket, Christina Gehrlein, age 48, Mannheim | image by MK&G/Roman Mishchuk

Hannah Altman, Untitled II, from the series 'And Everything Nice' 2015 © Hannah Altman

Gisela Vola, Untitled, from the series 'Marea Verde', 2018 © Gisela Vola

The Huxleys, Places of Worship, 2021, Photography © The Huxleys

The Huxleys, Style Over Substance, 2021, Video still © The Huxleys

The Huxleys, Style Over Substance, 2021, Video still © The Huxleys

Lorenzo Triburgo and Sarah van Dyck, Venus, from the series, 'ShimmerShimmer', 2020 © Lorenzo Triburgo and Sarah van Dyck

Jenny Schäfer, Everynight in my dreams (Detail), 2024 © Jenny Schäfer

Molly Soda, Best Friends Means You Get What You Deserve, 2017 Screenshot © Molly Soda

Fleur Stiels, Holy Glitter Zine 'Girls', 2017 © Fleur Stiels

María Domínguez Moreno (DOODLELINGYOU), So High School, 2024 © María Domínguez Moreno

Mirjana Mitrović, Untitled, from the series 'Pink.Glitter.Violence.' 2019 © Mirjana Mitrović | VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025

Sam Reece | image by Lizzie Darden © Sam Reece

SHITTY CRAFT CLUB, organized by Sam Reece, 2021 | image by Ali Levin © Sam Reece

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