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It’s Alive! A Century of Animation from the Collection
August 1, 2026 – Summer 2027
The Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art announces It’s Alive! A Century of Animation from the Collection, an expansive exhibition featuring the work that more than 35 artists and filmmakers—working largely in New York—produced in the 100 years prior to digital technology’s transformation of the medium. Opening in August 1, 2026, the exhibition will bring together over 200 pieces of production art and films from the Museum’s collection created between 1908 and 2020 by such artists as Jane Aaron, John Canemaker, Sally Cruikshank, Tissa David, Jerome Hill, Candy Kugel, Emily and Faith Hubley, David Ehrlich, George Griffin, Jeff Scher, and Michael Sporn. A theatrical retrospective of animated shorts and features, including work by exhibited artists and other animators represented in the Museum’s collection, will coincide with the exhibition, with details to be announced.
Organized by Ron Magliozzi, Curator, Francisco Valente, Curatorial Associate, Katie Trainor, Senior Collections Manager, and Cara Shatzman, Collections Specialist, Department of Film, with thanks to the Celeste Bartos Film Preservation Center’s Seth Mitter, Alma Macbride, and Joseph Shepherd.
Film at MoMA is made possible by CHANEL.
Additional support is provided by the Annual Film Fund. Leadership support for the Annual Film Fund is provided by The Contemporary Arts Council of The Museum of Modern Art, Agnes Gund through The International Council of The Museum of Modern Art, the Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP), and The Young Patrons Council of The Museum of Modern Art.
Press Kit
Images
Sally Cruikshank. “Quasi at the Quackadero” animation cel. 1975. Vinyl paint on celluloid and pencil on paper, 10 7/8 × 12″ (27.6 × 30.5 cm). John Canemaker Collection, Gift of John Canemaker, 2024.
Kathy Rose. “Pencil Booklings” animation drawing. 1978. Pencil and colored ink on paper, 13 1/2 × 16 1/2″ (34.3 × 41.9 cm). John Canemaker Collection, Gift of John Canemaker, 2024.
Oscar Grillo. Walt Disney caricature. u.d. Pencil on paper, 12 × 12 1/2″ (30.5 × 31.8 cm). John Canemaker Collection, Gift of John Canemaker, 2024.
Tissa David. “Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure” pre-production drawing, Ann & Andy in Shadow. c. 1976. Ballpoint pen and felt-tip pen on paper, 13 3/8 × 16 7/16″ (34 × 41.7 cm). Tissa David Collection, Gift of the artist, 2007.
Raoul Barre. “Cartoons in a Sanitarium” animation drawing. 1915. Ink on paper, 9 × 10 3/4″ (22.9 × 27.3 cm). Thomas Edison Collection.
Lotte Reiniger. “Adventures of Prince Achmed” film still #29. 1926. Film portfolio still, 9 3/16 × 11 3/16″ (23.3 × 28.4 cm). Department of Film Study Collection.
Hans Richter. “Dadascope” title card. 1961. Crayon and tempera paint on board, 15 × 20″ (38.1 × 50.8 cm). Gift of Frida Richter, 1977.
Hans Richter. “Dadascope” title card: Marcel Duchamp. 1961. Crayon and tempera paint on board, 15 × 20″ (38.1 × 50.8 cm). Gift of Frida Richter, 1977.
Isadore Klein. “Woodland Café” ant animation drawing #145. 1937. Pencil on paper, 10 × 12″ (25.4 × 30.5 cm). Isadore Klein Collection, Gift of Doris Hyman and Barbara Head Millstein, 1993.
Winsor McCay. “Gertie the Dinosaur” animation drawing #28. 1914. Ink on rice paper, 7 1/4 × 9 3/16″ (18.4 × 23.4 cm). Robert N. Brotherton Collection, Gift of Betty Adam Brotherton, 1989.
Jeff Scher. “Garden of Regrets” animation card #9. 1995. Mixed media on cardstock, 5 1/8 × 7″ (13 × 17.8 cm). Gift of the artist, 1998.
Buzzco Productions/Buzzco Associates. MTV cel setup: Astronauts. c. 1983. Marker and pencil on celluloid and photo paper, 11 7/8 × 14″ (30.2 × 35.6 cm). Buzzco/Perpetual Motion Collection, Gift of Buzzco Associates, Inc., 2013.
Buzzco Productions/Buzzco Associates. MTV cel setup: David Bowie. c. 1983. Marker and pencil on celluloid and photo paper, 10 1/2 × 12 1/2″ (26.7 × 31.8 cm). Buzzco/Perpetual Motion Collection, Gift of Buzzco Associates, Inc., 2013.
Buzzco Productions/Buzzco Associates. MTV cel setup: Cyndi Lauper. c. 1983. Marker and pencil on celluloid and photo paper, 10 1/2 × 12 1/2″ (26.7 × 31.8 cm). Buzzco/Perpetual Motion Collection, Gift of Buzzco Associates, Inc., 2013.
Buzzco Productions/Buzzco Associates. MTV cel setup: Tina Turner. c. 1983. Marker and pencil on celluloid and photo paper, 10 1/2 × 12 1/2″ (26.7 × 31.8 cm). Buzzco/Perpetual Motion Collection, Gift of Buzzco Associates, Inc., 2013.
Buzzco Productions/Buzzco Associates. MTV cel setup: cuckoo clock. c. 1983. Marker and pencil on celluloid and photo paper, 10 1/2 × 13 7/8″ (26.7 × 35.2 cm). Buzzco/Perpetual Motion Collection, Gift of Buzzco Associates, Inc., 2013.
Jack Mercer and Carl “Mike” Meyer, Famous Studios. “Barking Dogs Don’t Fite” animation drawing #132. 1949. Pencil on paper, 8 1/2 × 11″ (21.6 × 27.9 cm). Buzzco/Perpetual Motion Collection, Gift of Buzzco Associates, Inc., 2013.
Margaret Winkler with model for Felix the Cat toy. c. 1922. Gelatin silver print, 4 1/4 × 3 1/4″ (10.8 × 8.3 cm). Margaret J. Winkler Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Kathryn (Mintz) Fish, 1991.
Robert N. Brotherton. Television Cartoons Inc. gremlin animation cel. c. 1947–53. Vinyl paint on celluloid and board, 10 1/8 × 11 1/2″ (25.7 × 29.2 cm). Robert N. Brotherton Collection, Gift of Betty Adam Brotherton, 1989.
Jane Aaron. “Right in the Middle of My Face” Picasso sneeze animation drawing. 1993. Marker and colored pencil on paper, 10 3/4 × 12 1/2″ (27.3 × 31.8 cm). Jane Aaron Collection, Gift of Skip Blumberg, 2023.
George Griffin. “Flying Fur” animation drawing Dance, #113. 1981. Marker on paper, 9 1/2 × 12 1/2″ (24.1 × 31.8 cm). George Griffin Collection, Gift of the artist, 2012.
David Ehrlich. “Poznanie” clay painting #45. 2012. Clay on board, 7 3/4 × 9 × 1/2″ (19.7 × 22.9 × 1.3 cm). David Ehrlich Collection, Gift of the artist, 2021.
John Canemaker. “Bridgehampton” cel set-up, geese. 1998. Paint on celluloid over gouache background on paper, 10 1/2 × 12 1/2″ (26.7 × 31.8 cm). John Canemaker Collection, Gift of the artist, 1999.
Faith Hubley. “Africa” animation cel: Patterns in the Night. 1999. Ink, marker, and watercolor on paper, 10 1/2 × 12 1/2″ (26.7 × 31.8 cm). Hubley Collection, Gift of Hubley Family, 2001.
Emily Hubley. “Pigeon Within” Martini animation drawing. 2001. Colored pencil, felt-tip pen, and pencil on cut-and-pasted paper on photocopy on paper, 8 1/2 × 11″ (21.6 × 27.9 cm). Hubley Collection, Gift of the artist, 2000.
John Hubley. “Rooty Toot Toot” concept art. 1951. Ink and colored ink on paper, 12 1/2 × 10 1/4″ (31.8 × 26 cm). Hubley Collection, Gift of Hubley Family, 1999.
Jane Aaron. This Time Around. 1989. 16mm film to digital video (color, sound). 5 min.
Jane Aaron Collection, Gift of Skip Blumberg, 2023.
Michael Sporn. The Red Shoes. 1990. 16mm film to digital video (color, sound). 24 min. Gift of the artist, 2011.