If you’ve ever been curious about how Jonathan Adler’s creative mind works, now is your chance to find out. “The Mad MAD World of Jonathan Adler” — on view at New York’s Museum of Art and Design through April 19, 2026 — comprises hundreds of pieces from the prolific potter and designer’s archives. There’s also a re-creation of his studio in one corner of the space, with shelves containing instantly recognizable Adler pieces, a pottery wheel manned by a fittingly multicolored mannequin standing nearby and a cork board lined with personal photos presiding over the whole thing. It’s a convincing assortment that adds a sense of personality and warmth to the exhibition space.
The other pieces in the show are categorized according to Adler’s eight obsessions, including “Authentica,” comprising works inspired by mid-century ceramics, a well-known fixation of his; and “Animalia.” This is the designer’s first curatorial foray, and he pulled together roughly 300 objects for it, including 60 from the museum’s permanent collection.
Modernist sculptor Ruth Duckworth, Funk ceramists David Gilhooly and Robert Arneson and artist/designer Judy Kensley McKie are among the creatives whose works complement Adler’s pieces. “He’s extremely knowledgeable about the history of ceramics, and has a lot to say about inspiration and technique,” Elissa Auther, the chief curator of the Museum of Arts and Design, told the New York Times.
It might not be a visit to Adler’s actual studio, but the exhibition installation was designed by his husband, Simon Doonan, so for superfans of the designer, the show provides an opportunity to revisit many beloved pieces and get to know the works that inspired his love of pottery.
