Explore the gallery

Museum of Moving Image x COLLINS

Jim Henson’s work feels as if it is woven into the very fabric of our world. To imagine a universe without Kermit, Miss Piggy, or the labyrinthine worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth would be like waking up to find the color green had vanished from the spectrum. Henson’s brand of optimism—explosive, kaleidoscopic, and dreamlike—has become not just a creative influence but an essential, vital force in our lives.

Henson transformed the ordinary into something extraordinary, elevating puppetry to an art form that bridged generations. From his humble beginnings on local television in Maryland, to his work on Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, and beyond, his 40-year career shaped a generation’s understanding of joy, whimsy, and, most profoundly, human connection.

So it’s fitting that when his beloved characters—feathered, felted, and fanged—needed a forever home, the Museum of the Moving Image in New York opened its doors without hesitation. With over 400 puppets, costumes, and props donated by Henson’s estate, the museum created a space to honor his visionary spirit—a world fit for a frog, a pig, a goblin king, and a vampire with a penchant for counting.

For over three years, COLLINS worked with the museum’s curation and design teams, as well as the Henson family, to bring this exhibition to life.

Our collaboration touched every aspect, from the design of the gallery’s environment to the storytelling that shaped the exhibit’s narrative, interactive installations, and external communications.

Together, we built an immersive tribute to Henson’s genius, crafting a space where visitors could not only admire but *feel* the energy of his creative process.

Much like Kermit trying to keep The Muppet Show together before all chaos breaks loose, our design strikes a balance between chaos and control, between wild imagination and precise craftsmanship.

We hope that, like Henson’s stories and characters, this exhibition will continue to inspire awe and wonder in all who enter its world.

Credits

Clay Kippen

Gabe Benzur

Brett Renfer

Caroline Bagley

Thorbjorn Gudnason

Thomas Wilder

Jules Tardy

Antonia Lazar

Brian Collins

Barbara Miller

Wendell Walker

Angel Ortiz

Carl Goodman