How to Cite a Museum Exhibit in APA, MLA or Chicago
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