Brooklyn Museum Opens Major New Manga Exhibition
The Art of Manga exhibition showcases the expansive world of Japanese graphic novels to New York City audiences.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Comic Books
Live Poll
Do you believe pop culture exhibits are a valuable addition to local museum offerings?
The Brooklyn Museum has opened an exhibition titled Art of Manga. Curated by Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere, the collection aims to introduce the Japanese comic medium to United States audiences.
Why it matters
The exhibition offers a comprehensive look at the evolution of manga. It serves as a bridge for American visitors to engage with the cultural and artistic significance of Japanese graphic novels.
The exhibition features Japanese comic books and graphic novels throughout the gallery space. It is scheduled to remain open to the public until Jan. 31, 2027.
The players
Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere
She serves as a deputy director at the MOA Museum of Art and is the founding director of the Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures.
Brooklyn Museum
This is a major art institution located in New York City that hosts expansive cultural exhibitions.
The details
Curator Nicole Coolidge Rousmaniere organized the display to highlight the unique visual storytelling found in Japanese literature. The exhibition previously toured through San Francisco in 2025 before arriving in New York City.
Timeline
The curator first encountered manga during a trip to Japan in 1983.
The exhibition previously debuted in San Francisco in 2025.
The exhibition closes at the Brooklyn Museum on Jan. 31, 2027.
Culture Shift
The exhibition follows a pattern set by its 2025 debut in San Francisco, expanding the reach of the curated collection. This touring model reflects the growing institutional effort to treat manga as a primary subject of fine art study.
Residents and visitors can now access the full collection of graphic novels on display at the museum. The exhibition provides a specific opportunity for local comic enthusiasts to engage with rare Japanese source material through January 2027.
The takeaway
Visitors are encouraged to explore the historical roots of the medium to better understand its current global popularity. Engaging with these exhibits provides a rare look at the artistic process behind iconic Japanese graphic novels.
Further reading
For more on how visual storytelling is evolving, explore the Comic Books section.
Live Poll
Do you believe pop culture exhibits are a valuable addition to local museum offerings?
