How to Cite a Museum Exhibit in APA, MLA or Chicago
Published October 21, 2013. Updated July 22, 2022.
You can cite an entire art exhibition in many different styles. This page covers three different styles:
If you’re looking to cite a single piece of artwork, see one of these resources:
- Painting or sculpture: How to cite artwork guide | Cite a painting with the citation generator
- Photograph: How to cite a photo or image guide | Cite a photo with the citation generator
MLA format
If only one artist is featured, list the artist first, followed by the exhibition name.
Works Cited Structure (single artist):
Artist Last Name, First Name. Exhibition Name. Exhibition dates, Museum or Gallery Name, Location.
Works Cited Example (single artist):
Kusama, Yayoi. Kusama: Cosmic Nature. 10 Apr.–31 Oct. 2021, New York Botanical Garden, New York City.
In-text Citation Structure (single artist):
(Artist Last Name)
In-text Citation Example (single artist):
(Kusama)
If the exhibit doesn’t feature one specific artist, list the exhibition name first.
Works Cited Example (various artists):
Poetry and Patronage: The Laubespine-Villeroy Library Rediscovered. 16 Oct. 2020–16 May 2021, Morgan Library & Museum, New York City.
In-text Citation Structure (various):
(Exhibition Name*)
In-text Citation Example (various artists):
(Poetry and Patronage)
*Note: If the exhibition name is long, it can be shortened to the first noun clause in parenthetical citations.
If citing a permanent exhibition, leave the end date blank (if an opening date is known). If no date is known, leave the date section blank.
Date example (permanent exhibition): 14 Feb. 2018–
APA format
If there is no curator listed, begin the reference with the exhibition name.
Reference Structure (no curator):
Exhibition name [Exhibition]. (Year or Year–Year). Museum or Gallery Name, City, State if applicable, Country. URL if applicable
Reference Examples (no curator):
Kusama: Cosmic nature [Exhibition]. (2021). New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY, United States. https://www.nybg.org/event/kusama/
Modern Japanese lacquer [Exhibition]. (2021–2022). Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherlands. https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/whats-on/exhibitions/modern-japanese-lacquer
In-text Citation Structure (no curator):
(Name of exhibition, Year or Year–Year)
In-text Citation Examples (no curator):
(Kusama: Cosmic nature, 2021)
(Modern Japanese lacquer, 2021–2022)
If there is a known curator(s), list them first as the author.
Reference Structure (curator known):
Curator Last Name, Initials. (Year or Year–Year). Exhibition name [Exhibition]. Museum or Gallery Name, City, State if applicable, Country. URL if applicable
Reference Example (curator known):
Ikemoto, W. N. E. (2020–2021). Dreaming together [Exhibition]. New-York Historical Society, New York, NY, United States. https://www.nyhistory.org/exhibitions/dreaming-together-asia-society-museum
In-text Citation Structure (curator known):
(Curator Surname, Year or Year–Year)
In-text Citation Example (curator known):
(Ikemoto, 2020–2021)
Chicago style
If you’re citing an exhibition catalog, you cite it as a book. However, citing an exhibition catalog can result in a long citation. With this in mind, the Chicago Manual of Style also allows for the concise format shown below.
Bibliography Structure (notes-bibliography style):
Editor Last Name, First Name Middle., ed. Exhibition Catalog Title. Location: Museum Name, Publication Year. Exhibition catalog.
Bibliography Example (notes-bibliography style):
Cristosomo, Christian D., ed. Marvels and Myths: Examinations of Gods. Chicago: Museum of Comics and Culture, 2021. Exhibition catalog.
Note Structure (notes-bibliography style):
1. Editor First Name Last Name, ed., Exhibition Catalog Title (Location: Museum Name, Publication Year), exhibition catalog.
Note Example (notes-bibliography style):
1. Christian D. Cristosomo, ed., Marvels and Myths: Examinations of Gods (Chicago: Museum of Comics and Culture, 2021), exhibition catalog.
Bibliography Structure (author-date style):
Editor Last Name, First Name Middle., ed. Publication Year. Exhibition Catalog Title. Location: Museum Name. Exhibition catalog.
Bibliography Example (author-date style):
Cristosomo, Christian D., ed. 2021. Marvels and Myths: Examinations of Gods. Chicago: Museum of Comics and Culture. Exhibition catalog.
In-Text Citation Structure (author-date style):
(Editor Surname Publication Year)
In-Text Citation Example (author-date style):
(Cristosomo 2021)
To cite a museum exhibit, you may also use our miscellaneous form. To use Chicago style for the form, you will need a subscription to EasyBib Plus.
https://www.easybib.com/mla-format/miscellaneous-citation/custom