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