The Fantasy of the Middle Ages: Pop Culture Exhibition at Getty Museum

The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles presents 'The Fantasy of the Middle Ages,' a major exhibition exploring how medieval imagery has inspired contemporary pop culture. Running from June 21 to September 11, 2022, the show spans two galleries and five sections, drawing on the museum's collection of illuminated manuscripts. It examines the medieval roots of works by J.R.R. Tolkien, Howard Pyle, Arthur Rackham, and Disney artists, alongside modern fantasy in film, literature, video games, and reenactments. Curated by Bryan C. Keene and Larisa Grollemond, the exhibition features concept art from Disney's 'Sleeping Beauty,' Andy Warhol's pop-up castle, and objects from staff collections including Dungeons & Dragons miniatures, Magic: The Gathering cards, and memorabilia from The Lord of the Rings, The Legend of Zelda, and Barbie. The show also addresses themes of gender, sexuality, race, and religion in medieval and modern fantasy.