The Walker Art Center has opened its doors to families with the launch of “Show & Tell: An Exhibition for Kids.” Designed specifically for children and their caregivers, the exhibition presents contemporary art across multiple mediums while prioritizing hands-on engagement and playful interaction. The exhibition will be available for visitors through April 5, offering five interactive zones: FIND, READ, PLAY, MAKE, and WATCH.
Siri Engberg, senior curator and director of visual arts, and Pavel Pyś, curator of visual arts and collections strategy, spent 18 months creating the exhibition. They wanted to offer families a fun and engaging activity during the winter months.
Engberg said, “We really thought about how to create a lively environment that also gives kids and families a way into contemporary art that is really welcoming and engaging.”
The exhibition includes works from the Walker’s collection and new acquisitions, some on display for the first time in years. Each piece encourages interaction. Visitors are invited to touch, play, and explore, rather than just observe.
PLAY Zone
This area highlights physical engagement with art. Cas Holman’s sculpture Critter Party doubles as a play structure, encouraging climbing and exploration. Holman, an educator and toymaker, focuses on the power of play in her work.
Another highlight is a 20,000-piece jigsaw puzzle by Rirkrit Tiravanija. When completed, it forms Delacroix’s La Liberté Guidant le Peuple, which Coldplay used for their 2008 album” Viva la Vida” or “Death and All His Friends.”
Pyś said, “We were really thinking about how we can surprise our young viewers and offer them a kind of unusual and unorthodox way of engaging with the art.”
FIND Zone
The FIND zone encourages visitors to seek out hidden art. Pieces are placed behind walls and visible only through small portholes. Artworks include a miniature Spoonbridge and Cherry by Coosje van Bruggen and Claes Oldenburg and abstract alien figures by Yinka Shonibare. This approach adds a sense of adventure and discovery to the exhibition.
READ Zone
The READ zone is designed for quiet observation and reflection. It features works by Julie Buffalohead, Andrea Carlson, Amy Cutler, and Jacob Lawrence. Families can discuss what might happen next in the stories suggested by the artwork.
Pyś explained, “It’s essentially an area where you can come and see works and think about them and experience them through the lens of storytelling. Artists are often storytellers. Their works often come in stories.”
WATCH Zone
Visitors can relax in the WATCH zone while watching kid-friendly films from the Ruben/Bentson Moving Image Collection. Each screening encourages viewers to notice hidden details, adding an interactive element to the cinematic experience.
MAKE Zone
The MAKE zone allows visitors to create their own art. Inspired by Jeffrey Gibson and Caroline Kent, participants can experiment with colors, shapes, and compositions projected on the gallery wall. Visitors can also become a one-minute statue, a reference to Erwin Wurm.
Pyś said, “It’s a really fun way for kids to feel like they’re artists for the day, like they’re part of the exhibition.”
The exhibition encourages active participation. Traditional “Do not touch” rules are replaced with “Please touch” in areas meant for interaction. The Walker also offers free admission on the first Saturday of each month and every Thursday evening.
“Show & Tell” provides families with a space to engage with contemporary art in a hands-on way. Each zone offers a different experience—climbing, discovering, storytelling, watching, or creating. By combining play with artistic engagement, the Walker Art Center allows children to connect with art actively and imaginatively.
