Marcy Syms

Barbie: A Cultural Icon Exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Design
2024-10-19 10:00 - 2025-03-16 18:00 (America/New_York) | Museum of Art and Design, 2 Columbus Circle, New York, NY, United States
Barbie: A Cultural Icon charts the 65-year history of Barbie and the doll’s global impact on fashion and popular culture.
Museum of Arts and Design
Jerome and Simona Chazen Building
2 Columbus Circle, NYC, 10019
Open to the Public: Oct 19, 2024–Mar 16, 2025 -10:00am-6:00pm

Enjoy all-day exclusive access on Oct 18 before the exhibition opens to the public, plus discounts on passes for friends and family, all programs, and stylish
Barbie®: A Cultural Icon charts the 65-year history of Barbie and the doll’s global impact on fashion and popular culture through an expansive display of more than 250 vintage dolls, life-size fashion designs, advertisements, and other ephemera, along with exclusive video interviews with the doll’s designers. Visitors to the exhibition will trace the evolution of Barbie from a child’s toy to a global icon across six distinct sections, each exploring the style trends, careers, and identities that Barbie has embodied and popularized since her debut in 1959.

Marcy Syms one of the underwriters of Barbie®, A Cultural Icon Exhibtion at the Museum or Arts and Design

Francine LeFrak & Marcy Syms

Marcy Syms
The opening section relays the Barbie origin story andpresents all twenty-two original ensemble outfits, while subsequent areas consider the influence of the Space Age; the creation of Christie™, the first Black Barbie doll; the arrival of Ken™; and the creation of the Barbie Dreamhouse™. Visitors will also see Barbie in the iconic fashions of the 1970s, including Groovy Style, beachwear, and disco-themed designs, while sections on the 1980s and 1990s present a selection of diverse Barbie dolls representing a range of ethnicities, body types, and careers, including a feature on the first Black Barbie. The exhibition culminates in the 2000s, spotlighting the continued diversification of characters within the Barbie universe and connecting them to contemporary fashion trends, perspectives, and identities.
The exhibition, curated by Karan Feder and drawn from the private collection of David Porcello and Mattel, also features more than 50 historical objects and five unique photo opportunities, including a life-size Barbie Ultra ‘Vette™ with which visitors can interact. The exhibit will also showcase the Barbie Signature 65th Blue Sapphire Anniversary Fashion Dolls, paying homage to the iconic history and legacy of Barbie.
Barbie®: A Cultural Icon is presented in collaboration with Illusion Projects and Mattel, Inc., a leading global toy and family entertainment company and owner of one of the most iconic brand portfolios in the world. The major exhibition first debuted in 2021, welcoming thousands of visitors in both Phoenix and Las Vegas. Barbie®: A Cultural Icon marks its exclusive East Coast engagement at MAD, celebrating the 65th anniversary of Barbie.

Barbie® A Cultural Icon exhibition is made possible at the Museum of Arts and Design through the generous support of:
Francine A. LeFrak
Francine A. LeFrak Foundation
Samuel J. And Ethel S. LeFrak Charitable Trust
Michele and Marty Cohen
Ruth Ann Harnisch and The Harnisch Foundation
Marcy Syms
Barbie®: A Cultural Icon
Curated and Toured by Illusion Projects Inc. and curated by Karan Feder, in partnership with Mattel Inc.
Karan Feder – Curator
Shelley Lynn M.A. – Director
Tim Clothier – Producer
David Porcello – Consultant
Suzanne Becker PhD – Education Consultant
Trevor Bluth – Project Manager
Installation view courtesy of Illusion Projects. Photo: Jason Harper Photography
BARBIE® and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used under license from, Mattel.
