Solid Gold

Solid Gold is a dazzling celebration of humanity’s enduring fascination with the world’s most radiant metal. Presented in honor of the Brooklyn Museum’s 200th anniversary, the exhibition features more than 500 extraordinary works that trace gold’s influence across art, fashion, film, music, and design. From ancient depictions of divine beauty to the gilded splendor of Italian altarpieces, Japanese screens, and contemporary masterpieces, Solid Gold reveals how this precious element has long symbolized beauty, power, spirituality, and success. The exhibition pairs treasures from the Museum’s collection with spectacular international loans, showcasing creations by fashion icons such as Anna Sui, Christian Dior, Demna, Halston, Mary McFadden, and Yves Saint Laurent, alongside gold jewelry by Alexander Calder, Cartier, Charles Loloma, and Verdura. While illuminating the brilliance and allure of gold, the exhibition also reckons with its complex legacy—inviting reflection on the environmental and human costs of its extraction. Immersive and opulent, Solid Goldcaptures the shimmering duality of one of humanity’s most captivating materials.