More than 40 rare works trace the novel’s deep connections to Jazz Age art—and to the Twin Cities’ own F. Scott Fitzgerald

July 2, 2025

Minneapolis—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) will mark the 100th anniversary of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby with “Gatsby at 100”—an exhibition that demonstrates how the iconic novel both shaped and was shaped by the visual culture of its era.

On view from September 13, 2025, through March 22, 2026, the exhibition brings together more than 40 paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and decorative‑arts objects, as well as a first‑edition book in the all-important dust jacket—many rarely displayed—from Mia’s collection and other collections. Featuring major European modernists Oskar Kokoschka, Pablo Picasso, and Henri Matisse, alongside regional talents Wanda Gág and Adolph Dehn, the exhibition illuminates a moment of dazzling creativity and social upheaval that Fitzgerald famously dubbed the “Jazz Age.”

“We hope visitors will discover the striking parallels between visual arts and literature in the 1920s,” said Galina Olmsted, Mia’s Associate Curator of European Art and co-curator of the exhibition. “The centennial of The Great Gatsby offers an ideal framework to explore how artists and writers grappled with questions about the American Dream, dizzying social change, and rampant excess that still feel urgent a century later.”

The exhibition explores how the ideals and contradictions of the 1920s—so vividly rendered in The Great Gatsby—were also reflected in the visual arts of the era. Artists and writers alike grappled with the disillusionment of the American Dream, revealing the gap between aspiration and reality in a time of profound social and economic change. Themes of decadence, rapid industrialization, and shifting cultural norms resonate throughout the works on view, creating striking parallels between the Jazz Age and contemporary times.

“Gatsby at 100” also highlights the dynamic interplay between literature and art, including how the now-iconic cover of Gatsby directly inspired Fitzgerald to revise his manuscript. “Fitzgerald was born in Saint Paul in 1896, and the Midwest (or West as he put it) echoes throughout the story, nearly becoming a character. We tried to incorporate this sense of coming home into the exhibition as well,” said Lori Williamson, Mia’s Supervisor of the Herschel V. Jones Print Study Room and co-curator of the exhibition. “By including both internationally celebrated artists and notable Minnesotan voices, this exhibition grounds the story in a local context, underscoring both the Midwest’s rich contributions to the cultural landscape of the 1920s and its worldwide reach.”

“Gatsby at 100” programming will include:

• • August 9, 2025: In true Gatsby fashion, Mia will host a festive brunch on the lawn—a nod to Daisy, Nick, and the glamour of the Roaring Twenties—as we gear up for the upcoming exhibition.
• • October 25, 2025: Mia Matinee. Join us for a special screening of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby as part of Mia’s ongoing celebration of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel. Experience the film’s dazzling visuals and timeless story on the big screen.
• • October 30, 2025: Halloween party; The Object LIVE. Mia’s annual Halloween party gets a 1920s twist with a Gatsby-themed evening of glamour, mystery, and live storytelling. Join us in costume for a roaring good time as The Object podcast records live with host Tim Gihring, featuring unexpected stories pulled straight from Mia’s collection.

Exhibition Details

• Exhibition Title: “Gatsby at 100”
• Dates: September 13, 2025–March 22, 2026
• Location: Galleries 315 and 316, Mia
• Cost: Free

For more information on “Gatsby at 100” and other upcoming exhibitions, 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 www.artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.