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

Wed 19 Aug 2026

The Jim Henson Company is internationally renowned for its work across film, television and stage, specialising in performance-led puppetry, creature design, animatronics and visual effects. Driven by an unrelenting curiosity and desire to push boundaries, the Company fosters a culture of innovation, creativity, exploration and experimentation.

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 second 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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For the past seven decades, The Jim Henson Company has remained committed to its core principles of innovation, creativity, exploration and experimentation. Driven by an unrelenting curiosity and a desire to push boundaries, the Company remains true to the belief that puppetry can carry storytelling on screen; technology should serve the performance, not replace it; and that puppets are actors, not objects. Central to this inspiring work is Jim Henson’s Creature Shop; with a strong focus on its innovative work and its studios in New York and Los Angeles, ‘Make, Believe, Magic’ celebrates the work of the Creature Shop’s artists and the makers who have revolutionised the art of puppetry on screen. Its interdisciplinary team — of designers, craftspeople, fabricators, engineers, animators, digital artists and puppeteers — works to realise the vision of directors, writers and producers, as well as the needs of performers. A blend of classic techniques and modern technologies is at the heart of every production, reflecting a commitment to ensuring that even the most complex creations are grounded in authentic live performances.

Jim Henson & Kathryn Mullen puppeteer the Gelflings ‘Jen’ & ‘Kira’ on the set of The Dark Crystal 1982

‘The Thought Lion’ animatronic puppet on the set of The True Bride episode of Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller 1988

Jim and Brian Henson with ‘The StoryTeller’s Dog’ animatronic puppet on the set of Jim Henson’s The StoryTeller 1987–89

Featuring over 500 objects, from handcrafted puppets and animatronic creatures to large-scale puppeteering sets, props, unique costumes and original drawings, to moving-image clips and examples of digital puppetry, ‘Make, Believe, Magic’ offers a comprehensive view of the creativity embodied within The Jim Henson Company’s many television, film and stage productions. Rather than putting its developmental trajectory on a timeline, the exhibition explores the Company’s worlds in three thematic chapters.

‘The Method, the Making and the Magic’ considers its groundbreaking puppetry construction and performance methods (first developed by Jim Henson and Jane Nebel in the 1950s for broadcast television) and its continued development alongside more recent television pilots, series, commercials and digital productions. This theme also highlights the Company’s long-established creative techniques, unique characters and professional relationships. The complexities faced by puppeteers and their creative teams when bringing characters and storylines to life are revealed in ‘The Puppets, the Puppeteers and the Performance’; we delve into the Company’s long-established approach to innovative and critical thinking.

Lastly, we trace its creation of imaginative, character-driven productions for global audiences of all ages in ‘The Daring, the Digital and New Directions’. Under this theme, the exhibition explores the technical advancements in performer-led puppetry pioneered by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop — integrating creature systems that blend practical and digital techniques in live-action filmmaking — and unpacks the way these inform the rich worldbuilding for which the Company is renowned.

Built on courage, creativity and candour, The Jim Henson Company is an international leader in the field of onscreen puppetry. Drawing on its early creative foundations, the Company continues to foster a culture of innovation, experimentation and exploration, forging new pathways in performance-led family entertainment. With ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’, QAGOMA is excited to set the stagefor many memorable exhibition experiences,as we celebrate the artistry and energy of the Company and its singular, inspiring storytelling.

Building puppets in the Los Angeles Creature Shop for The Happytime Murders 2018

Drew Massey performing in Puppet Up! 2024

Production still from Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock 2022–present

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