Whenever I find myself in San Francisco, which is relatively often for an Aussie and nowhere near often enough at the same time, I can’t miss a trip to the Walt Disney Family Museum. I cried the first time I walked through the place, and despite always assuming I would grow out of that emotion for it, it still hits me just as hard every single visit. There is both an epic beauty and a sadness to Walt Disney’s life. Such a vivid and charismatic creator who passed well before he was finished reshaping the idea of family fun for the world ahead.
Aside from the usual walk-through spaces, this Disney location also offers limited-time exhibitions, giving Disney fans a closer look into the lives of some of the Disney Legends that have a remarkable effect on the parks we love today. The next exhibition is set to begin viewing on May 22nd, 2025, and will showcase the vision and achievements of this legendary Disney art director. Read all the details below, and don’t miss this event if you are going to be in the area between May 22nd and September 7th, 2025!
The Walt Disney Family Museum is delighted to announce Mary Blair: Mid-Century Magic, a special exhibition exploring the creative vision and achievements of one of Walt Disney’s most imaginative and renowned designers and art directors.
On view beginning May 22, 2025, this new showcase of Blair’s artwork from the museum’s collection will be a reimagined return of a fan-favorite original special exhibition that debuted in 2014: MAGIC, COLOR, FLAIR: the world of Mary Blair. Curated by the museum’s Director of Collections & Exhibitions Marina Villar-Delgado and based on the original exhibition created by award-winning animator and animation historian John Canemaker, Mary Blair: Mid-Century Magic presents a fresh look at Blair’s inspirational career, with an expanded selection of works that highlight her later collaborations with Walt on iconic theme park and resort installations, including attractions, façades, and murals.
Known for her whimsical and daring approach to art, Blair’s versatility spanned multiple mediums, including watercolor, pencil and ink, collage, and ceramics. Mary Blair: Mid-Century Magic will feature nearly 150 artworks and historical photographs exploring her influential role in shaping the look and feel of many of Disney’s animated films and theme park experiences—an artistic vision that continues to resonate today. Guests will also have the opportunity to dive deeper into the exhibition experience with hands-on Mary Blair-themed art activities or using their phones to unlock augmented reality interactives.
Mary Blair: Mid-Century Magic will be on view in the museum’s Lower Lobby and Theater Galleries from Thursday, May 22, through Sunday, September 7, 2025. Entry to the special exhibition is free with general admission, with a suggested donation of $5 to support the museum’s initiative to present world-class original exhibitions. More information to be announced soon on an exclusive screening in the museum’s theater, which will include a collection of rare film footage and animated film clips to accompany the artwork featured in Mary Blair: Mid-Century Magic.
