Whenever I visit museums, I always enjoy looking at the artworks, of course. But sometimes, I wish I could bring home a replica or even just a postcard or sticker to commemorate it and have a piece of it with me. Not all of them have something accessible like that, though. This new collaboration between the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Mattel is bringing high art and popular culture together so that people can appreciate art more through playing and collecting.

This collaboration isn’t just a one-time thing, as it is a multi-year partnership between the global toy giant and one of the leading cultural institutions. The goal is not just to have something for collectors but also to bring modern and contemporary art to new audiences by creating interactive and accessible experiences. People will be able to view high art not just through the lenses of museums but actually interact with it and even take it home with them.

Designers: MoMA x Mattel Creations

The first capsule collection will be available this coming November 2025 and will feature seven iconic pieces inspired by some of the best masterworks from MoMA’s permanent collection. They will be available in MoMA Design Stores in New York and Japan, and on the MoMA and Mattel websites.

The centerpiece of this collection is a Barbie doll that’s inspired by the iconic “Starry Night” masterpiece by Vincent van Gogh. Barbie is dressed in a gown that serves as the canvas for the ethereal and dreamlike quality of the painting. You’ll see dreamy swirls, blue skies, and stars in the runway ready gown.

If your taste is more surrealist, then you’ll want to take home the Little People Collector featuring a Salvador Dalí duo. One is a self-portrait figure with his famous twirled mustache, while the other is still Dalí but with elements from his painting “The Persistence of Memory.”

Another Little People Collector set, this time, features impressionist master Claude Monet. One of the figures is him working in his studio, while the other is a three-dimensional self-portrait inspired by his “Water Lilies” paintings.

Part of the capsule is also a special edition of the Magic 8 Ball, but instead of the usual colors, you get a vibrant abstract tapestry on its surface by Alma Woodsey Thomas. Out of the twenty usual answers, nine have been updated with custom phrases by Thomas as well.

Car enthusiasts also have something to collect with Hot Wheels die-cast replicas of cars like the Citroën DS 23 Sedan, complete with an opening hood and custom Real Riders wheels. There is also a die-cast replica of the Jaguar E-Type Roadster, which is one of the earliest cars that MoMA exhibited in the 1950s.

Lastly, you can take home works from famed artists like Henri Matisse, Piet Mondrian, Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh, but this time in a UNO Canvas deck. The cards also include works by Sonia Delaunay and Liubov Popova for the Wild cards.

As we look ahead to this groundbreaking collaboration, it’s clear that the Mattel x MoMA partnership represents something much larger than a simple product launch. It’s a bold reimagining of how we can experience and connect with art in our daily lives. This five-year partnership promises to continue breaking down the barriers between high culture and everyday life, proving that great art doesn’t have to remain behind velvet ropes to maintain its power and beauty.

For those of us who have wandered through museum halls wishing we could take a piece of that inspiration home, this collection offers exactly that opportunity. Whether it’s displaying a van Gogh-inspired Barbie on your shelf, playing UNO with masterpieces in your hands, or racing Hot Wheels replicas of design icons, these pieces transform passive art appreciation into active, joyful engagement.

The post MoMA and Mattel give high art masterpieces a pop culture makeover first appeared on Yanko Design.

The trend of having a fusion of analog and digital photographs doesn’t seem to be just a trend anymore as we’re seeing a lot of brands still thriving. There is a certain joy in having printed photos adorn your wallet, journal, or wall, no matter if you’re Gen X or a Millenial or Gen Alpha. It’s not just about memory keeping or photography sometimes as it’s also an expression of creativity when you use various other things to decorate it or you use it as actual decoration. We see brands also embrace the creative aspect that collectors get from tangible photographs and this latest collaboration between two giants of creativity is one that you have to watch out for.

This exciting new partnership sees Polaroid, a brand synonymous with instant photography, joining forces with the prestigious Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) to create a truly unique and collectible item. At the heart of this collaboration is a limited-edition iteration of the highly sought-after Polaroid Now Generation 3 Instant Camera. This special MoMA Edition stands out with its visually arresting monochrome blue finish, a sleek and modern aesthetic that perfectly complements the iconic MoMA logo, which is prominently displayed as a mark of this creative union.

Designer: Polaroid and MoMA

Adding a touch of personalization and style, the camera is accompanied by not just one, but three interchangeable neck straps. Each strap boasts a distinct color-blocking design, allowing users to switch them out to match their personal style or mood, making this camera as much a fashion statement as it is a tool for capturing memories. There is also a limited-edition i-Type Film MoMA Edition pack that has 8 of the 12 designed special frames. They are either marked with the MoMA logo or it has quotes from famous artists like An-My Lê, Betye Saar, Carmen Herrera, Meret Oppenheim, Milton Glaser, and Vincent van Gogh. This adds another layer of creativity and inspiration as the quotes from these groundbreaking artists can challenge new creatives to defy convention and tread their own path.

This exciting collaboration between Polaroid and MoMA beautifully illustrates the enduring appeal of tangible photography and the boundless power of artistic inspiration. By offering a unique camera and film adorned with iconic imagery and thought-provoking quotes, they’re providing a catalyst for creativity, encouraging individuals to capture their world through an artistic lens, one instant photograph at a time.

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