World's Most Unusual Museums: A Global Guide to Quirky Collections
James Lees, a physicist and museum consultant, has created a map highlighting unconventional museums worldwide, particularly those dedicated to unusual themes such as failed products and broken relationships. Among these is the Museum of Broken Relationships in Zagreb, Croatia, showcasing personal artifacts and narratives from contributors, alongside Sweden's Museum of Failure, which honors unsuccessful products. Originating from devoted private collectors, these institutions represent a contemporary revival of Wunderkammer, captivating audiences with their curiosities. In a competitive cultural arena, they prompt discussions about the value of preservation, suggesting that both failures and mundane items can illuminate our identities, sometimes even more powerfully than celebrated masterpieces.
Key facts
- James Lees, a physicist, science communicator, and museum consultant, created maps of the world's strangest museums.
- The Museum of Broken Relationships is located in Zagreb, Croatia.
- The Museum of Failure is located in Sweden.
- These museums collect items such as failed products, ended relationships, and everyday objects.
- The museums are seen as a contemporary return to the Wunderkammer, or cabinets of curiosities.
- The eccentricity of these museums has touristic appeal in the age of social media.
- The museums raise the question of what is worth preserving.
- The article was published on Inside Art on September 7, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- James Lees
Institutions
- Museum of Broken Relationships
- Museum of Failure
Locations
- Zagreb
- Croatia
- Sweden