The Shakers
A World in the Making
In spring 2025, the Vitra Design Museum together with the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia will present a major touring exhibition that examines the spiritually-driven creative production of the Shaker community and their impact on contemporary art and design. »The Shakers: A World in the Making« explores the enduring relevance of the Shakers, an American religious separatist group founded in the late 18th century that was best known for their carefully crafted furniture and their firm beliefs, including a communitarian lifestyle and strict celibacy. An unexpected muse, the Shakers occupy a significant place in the history of art and design, as their labor and material culture has served as inspiration for generations of artists and designers. Taking the Shaker belief system as a starting point, the exhibition contends that their furniture, architecture, tools, and commercial goods serve as profound reflections of their values and particularly of their commitment to building community – or, as they understood it, heaven on earth. Looking forward, the exhibition asks artists and designers of today to reflect on this history of making and to consider how Shaker principles can help them to envision their own better worlds.
An exhibition organised by the Vitra Design Museum, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, and the Wüstenrot Foundation
In collaboration with Shaker Museum
Space
600 – 1,000 m² / 6,000 – 10,000 sq ft
Curatorial Team
Vitra Design Museum: Mea Hoffmann, Irina Selzer
Milwaukee Art Museum: Shoshana Resnikoff, Chyna Bounds
ICA Philadelphia: Hallie Ringle, Zoë Ryan
Exhibition Design
Formafantasma
Graphic Design
A Practice For Everyday Life
Detailed information
Illustrated Concept
Exhibition Tour
07.06.2025 – 28.09.2025, Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein, Germany
31.01.2026 – 09.08.2026, Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia, United States of America
25.09.2026 – 31.01.2027, Milwaukee Art Museum, United States of America
For further information please contact Cora.Harris@design-museum.de.
