New scholarship and conservation, supported by Bank of America, brings one of the earliest known Chinese bronze sculptures back on view
April 26, 2026
Minneapolis—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is excited to share the return of its renowned Pillsbury Owl, a rare 3,000-year-old bronze ritual vessel from China’s Shang dynasty, following an extensive conservation effort that revealed new insights into the sculpture’s history. One of the most important early Chinese bronzes in an American museum collection, the owl will go back on view beginning April 16 in Mia’s reimagined bronze gallery.
The conservation and research project, made possible through the Bank of America Art Conservation Project, restored the ancient sculpture after damage sustained during its 2023 exhibition. This project deepened scholarly understanding of the bronze sculpture’s original casting and mid-20th century restorations. The owl’s return marks a significant moment for Mia and for the study of early Chinese art, bringing an admired and globally significant work back into public view.
“The Pillsbury Owl is one of the most beloved works in Mia’s collection, and its return is something many visitors have been waiting for,” said Katie Luber, Mia’s Nivin and Duncan MacMillan Director & President. “We are grateful to Bank of America for supporting its conservation and thrilled to celebrate its homecoming. This project reflects Mia’s commitment to preservation, scholarship, and creating meaningful experiences for our community.”
Conservation Support
The Pillsbury Owl is among 16 recipients selected worldwide for the prestigious 2025 Bank of America Art Conservation Project. This marks the fourth time this program has supported conservation of a work in Mia’s collection. Previous conservation projects include Max Beckmann’s Blind Man’s Buff (1945) in 2013, Frank Stella’s Tahkt-I-Sulayman Variation II (1969) in 2017, and Domenico Passignano’s Expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise (1627) in 2022.
Since the Art Conservation Project’s inception in 2010, Bank of America has funded the conservation of more than 275 historically or culturally significant works of art in 40 countries, including those designated as national treasures.
The grant further solidifies Bank of America’s long-standing partnership with Mia. Beyond conservation efforts, the bank was the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Frozen Sculptures at Mia, and has sponsored many other projects, including Mia’s Family Day programming, the 2020–2021 exhibition “In the Presence of Our Ancestors: Southern Perspectives in African American Art,” and was the major corporate sponsor for “Hearts of Our People: Native Women Artists exhibition in 2019.”
“Supporting the arts is a cornerstone of our commitment to the communities we serve, and Bank of America’s Art Conservation Project invests in the direct preservation of irreplaceable historic and cultural treasures,” said Bank of America Twin Cities president, Lucas Giambelluca. “Helping to conserve the owl is a highlight of our longstanding partnership with Mia and ensures that this legacy and inspiration remain accessible for generations to come.”
Additional conservation support was provided by The Sumitomo Foundation.
A Rare Example of Early Chinese Art
The Pillsbury Owl is a zun, a wine vessel used during the Shang dynasty (circa 1600–1046 B.C.) for rituals honoring ancestors. The sculpture consists of a hollow body and a removable head. Few owl-shaped zuns survive, and Mia’s example is considered one of the earliest and most naturalistic. Its design reflects artistic influences from the Shang capital at Anyang, while technical casting features link the object to bronze workshops in the middle Yangzi region.
“Seeing the bronze owl restored and returned to public view is deeply meaningful for our team,” said Liu Yang, PhD, Mia’s Chair of Asian Art and Curator of Chinese Art. “The conservation process allowed us to gain new insight into how the vessel was cast more than 3,000 years ago during the late Shang dynasty, as well as into the extensive restoration it underwent in the 1940s. Thanks to the support of Bank of America, we were able to stabilize the object for long-term preservation and safeguard its historical and artistic significance for future generations.”
Before it entered the Pillsbury collection in 1947, the owl-shaped zun had suffered significant damage and was extensively restored. The 2023 incident revealed many of the same repaired areas, providing conservators with a rare opportunity to study earlier restoration techniques. As part of the current conservation effort, specialists produced high-resolution X-radiographs and conducted detailed material analysis, shedding new light on which parts of the vessel were restored in the 1940s and the techniques used by earlier restorers.
For the most recent treatment, the conservation team combined adhesive and soldering methods. The restored vessel has now regained its original visual integrity, with the previous damage barely detectable.
With its return to public view, the Pillsbury Owl once again invites visitors to see one of the earliest surviving masterpieces of Chinese art, connecting contemporary audiences with a ritual object created more than 3,000 years ago.
- Exhibition Details: Pillsbury Owl Returns
- Date: Opens April 16, 2026
- Location: Gallery 214
- Cost: Free
For more information, visit www.artsmia.org.
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About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration. Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.
General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.
For more information, call 1-612-870-3000 or visit artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.
About Bank of America
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