Hieroglyphs to Hype: The Modern Afterlife of Ancient Egypt at Fairfield University Art Museum

Fairfield University Art Museum will present Hieroglyphs to Hype: The Modern Afterlife of Ancient Egypt from September 18 through December 12, 2026, in the Bellarmine Hall Galleries. The exhibition explores the lasting influence of ancient Egyptian art and culture on modern imagination, design, and popular culture through paintings, prints, photography, sculpture, decorative arts, and contemporary works spanning the early 19th century to today.

Curated by Museum Registrar Megan Paqua, the exhibition examines the phenomenon known as “Egyptomania,” tracing how ancient Egyptian imagery has been interpreted, misunderstood, commercialized, and reimagined across generations. The exhibition includes works ranging from 19th-century paintings and decorative objects to contemporary art addressing identity, race, colonialism, and cultural memory.

Featured artists and objects include David Roberts’ 1849 painting The Hypostyle Hall of the Great Temple of Abu Simbel, Egypt, Audrey Flack’s Lux Eternal, and works by Lorraine O’Grady, Esmeralda Kosmatopoulos, Sara Sallam, Jane Hammond, and Fred Wilson. The exhibition also explores popular themes including Cleopatra, mummies, King Tut, and the influence of ancient Egypt in film, fashion, media, and visual culture.

Lenders to the exhibition include the Yale Center for British Art, Yale University Art Gallery, the Wadsworth Atheneum, the Hood Museum of Art, artists, and private collectors. An illustrated exhibition catalogue will be available in the galleries.

A series of free public programs will accompany the exhibition, including curator talks, gallery tours, lectures, and family events. Opening events begin on September 17 with a 5:30 pm conversation between curator Megan Paqua and Curator of Education Michelle DiMarzo, followed by a reception at 6:30 pm. Additional programs throughout the fall will explore topics including mummification, ancient Egypt in video games, Egyptian antiquities in New York, and featured works from the exhibition.

Fairfield University Art Museum is located at 200 Barlow Road, Fairfield, CT 06824. All exhibition programs are free and open to the public, though some gallery talks require advance registration due to limited space.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Fairfield University Art Museum website.