Permanent display
Closing soon
Shapes from Out of Nowhere: Ceramics from the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection
22 Feb 2021 — 29 Aug 2021 at Metropolitan Museum of Art
· New York City
Presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2021, "Shapes from Out of Nowhere: Ceramics from the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection" brings together an exceptional gathering of ceramic works spanning cultures and centuries.
The exhibition takes its title from the sense of wonder these objects inspire — forms that seem to emerge fully realized, as if conjured from imagination alone. From ancient utilitarian vessels to boldly experimental contemporary pieces, the works on view reveal the extraordinary range of human creativity expressed through clay.
The Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection is celebrated for its depth and breadth, encompassing ceramics from diverse traditions and time periods. This exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the collection in dialogue, tracing the evolution of shape, surface, and technique across the history of the medium.
The exhibition takes its title from the sense of wonder these objects inspire — forms that seem to emerge fully realized, as if conjured from imagination alone. From ancient utilitarian vessels to boldly experimental contemporary pieces, the works on view reveal the extraordinary range of human creativity expressed through clay.
The Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection is celebrated for its depth and breadth, encompassing ceramics from diverse traditions and time periods. This exhibition offers visitors a rare opportunity to experience the collection in dialogue, tracing the evolution of shape, surface, and technique across the history of the medium.
About the venue
Metropolitan Museum of Art
· New York City
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, colloquially referred to as the Met, is an encyclopedic art museum in New York City. By floor area, it is the fourth-largest museum in the world and the largest art museum in the Americas. With 5,727,258 visitors in fiscal year 2025, it was the most-visited museum in…
