Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company

Thu 13 Aug 2026

Opening at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) on 12 September 2026, ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ draws on The Jim Henson Company’s rich history to present a large-scale, immersive exhibition celebrating the organisation’s legacy and ongoing creative practice. ‘Make, Believe, Magic’ is the first exhibition to traverse the Company’s incredible achievements across its 70-year history.

This is the first edited excerpt drawn from texts featured in the publication Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company coinciding with the world-first exhibition of the same name.

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The Jim Henson Company’s influence on entertainment, education and popular culture over the last half-century cannot be overstated. Its pioneering use of puppetry and animatronics has resulted in some of the most dearly loved characters ever brought to the screen. By turns whimsical and fantastical, sinister and satirical, the Company’s stories overflow with hope and delight as they ingeniously bridge the gap between generations. Acknowledging the symbiotic relationship between visual art and screen culture, ‘Make, Believe, Magic' is the Gallery’s most ambitious undertaking to date in this field, and encompasses objects, sets and onscreen offerings that take us behind the scenes and seams of a unique environment of craft, characterisation and innovation. Unparalleled in scope, the exhibition brings to the fore some of the most cherished characters and stories in screen history.

Frank Oz, Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl with ‘Big V’ puppet 1964

Founded in 1955 by Jim and Jane Henson, The Jim Henson Company thrives to this day as a family-run business, fuelled by a relentless passion for innovation. Specialising in performance-led puppetry, creature design, animatronics and visual effects, and widely celebrated for its work across film, television and stage, the Company continues to blaze a trail — through the much-loved television series Fraggle Rock 1983–87 and the award-winning reboot Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock 2022–present; the treasured cinematic fantasy worlds of The Dark Crystal 1982, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance 2019 and Labyrinth 1986; and the science fiction universe of Farscape 1999–2003. Long embedded in the collective psyche are its many other creations, including the ingenious television series The Muppet Show 1976–81 and subsequent Muppet feature films and specials in the 1980s and 90s, as well as their contributions to Sesame Street 1969–present, in which the joy of spending time with friends is celebrated on the most famous street in children’s television history.^[1]

Behind the scenes of Sesame Street c.1970

Behind the scenes of The Dark Crystal 1982

Brian Henson and Jim Henson on the set of Labyrinth 1986

Production still from The Curious Creations of Christine McConnell 2018

Behind the scenes of the Emmy Award–winning series on Apple TV Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock 2022–present

These productions sit alongside numerous family-centric television series, including Sid the Science Kid 2008–21, Splash and Bubbles 2016–18 and Dinosaur Train 2009–23. In addition, under the label of Henson Alternative, the Company has produced several edgier productions aimed at older audiences, including the highly popular live improvisational show Puppet Up! – Uncensored, since 2006.

Inspired by the work of The Jim Henson Company and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, ‘Make, Believe, Magic’ also presents three specially curated film programs: ‘Screened to be Believed: The Jim Henson Company’, ‘Where the Wild Things Are Made: Jim Henson’s Creature Shop’ and ‘Beyond Henson: Puppetry and World Cinema’. These programs explore the rich histories of storytelling made possible through the combined artforms of cinema and puppetry.

Production still from Labyrinth 1986

This edited excerpt is drawn from texts by exhibition curator Amanda Slack-Smith, Curatorial Manager, Australian Cinematheque, and Chris Saines CNZM, Director, QAGOMA, featured in the 176-page publication Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company. Coinciding with the world-first exhibition of the same name at the Gallery of Modern Art, Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company is available at QAGOMA Stores and online.

Only at GOMA. Exclusive to Brisbane, Queensland.

For more information on the exhibition visit:
Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company
Sat 12 September 2026 – Sun 18 April 2027
Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Gallery 1.1 (The Fairfax Gallery), Gallery 1.2, Gallery 1.3 (Eric and Marion Taylor Gallery) & River Room (Sue and Brian King River Room)

Buy tickets in advance to 'The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company' to guarantee entry. Tickets are also available at the exhibition entry unless sold out. Last session 4.00pm daily. Exhibition closes at 5.00pm.
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For the full cinema programs visit:
Screened to be Believed: The Jim Henson Company
Where the Wild Things Are Made: Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
Beyond Henson: Puppetry and World Cinema
Sat 12 September 2026 – Sun 18 April 2027
Australian Cinémathèque, GOMA

The ‘Make, Believe, Magic’ cinema programs are free, with screenings on selected Wednesday and Friday nights and throughout the day on Saturday and Sundays.

This exhibition is organised by QAGOMA in collaboration with The Jim Henson Company.

QAGOMA is excited to be celebrating the opening of ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ in association with Brisbane Festival in September.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
Brisbane, Australia

Endnotes

1. ^ In 2004, The Walt Disney Company purchased the Muppet franchise, the Muppet film and television library and the ‘Muppet’ trademark and brand rights from The Jim Henson Company. Creating a new division at The Walt Disney Company — The Muppets Studio — they now guide the creative direction of the franchise. The Jim Henson Company continues to create the puppets for Sesame Workshop through the New York branch of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop.