tim burton exhibition unveils 'the nightmare before christmas' behind-the-scenes magic

McNay Art Museum presents Tim Burton’s Dreamland

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of The Nightmare Before Christmas, the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, Texas, presents an exhibition dedicated to famed filmmaker Tim Burton. Titled Dreamland, the show offers visitors a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the enchanting world of the iconic 1993 stop-motion animated film by showcasing a carefully curated collection of small models and original artwork used to bring the beloved film to life. The exhibition will be on display until January 14, 2024.

Tim Burton, Bed from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993).Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Gift of Robert L. B. Tobin, TL1994.4.1.1. © Disney. © Tim Burton

Reuniting with the nightmare before Christmas characters

In this exhibition at McNay Art Museum (find more here), visitors can reconnect with the endearing yet quirky characters from Tim Burton’s iconic ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas,’ such as Oogie Boogie, Bone Crusher, and the beloved hero, Jack Skellington. The show weaves together maquettes originally crafted for Burton’s iconic film, and an array of artworks, inviting guests to embark on their own imaginative journeys into the realms of fantasy. As a nod to Tim Burton’s creative origins at Walt Disney, there’s a captivating ‘hall of peculiar portraits’ that might just leave visitors wondering whether those eyes in the pictures are watching you.

The exhibition also gives guests the chance to encounter a range of unconventional characters created by artists from McNay’s collection, including José Clemente Orozco Farías, Julie Heffernan, Eugene Berman, Marilyn Lanfear, Willem de Kooning, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Julie Speed, and more. Exploring vibrant and unfamiliar realms through large paintings and photographs by artists like Paul Maxwell, Claudia Rogge, Robin Utterback, and Sandy Skoglund is also part of the experience.

Tim Burton, Jack Skellington and his dog, Zero, in Jack’s Tower from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Gift of Robert L. B. Tobin, TL1994.4.1.3. © Disney © Tim Burton

Tim Burton, Cat House from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Gift of Robert L. B. Tobin, TL1994.4.1.2. © Disney. © Tim Burton

Tim Burton, Oogie Boogie Exposed from The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Gift of Robert L. B. Tobin, TL1994.4.1.5.1. © Disney. © Tim Burton

Dreamland exhibition view | image courtesy of McNay Art Museum

Julie Heffernan, Self-Portrait as Ornament, 2006. Oil on canvas. Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Gift of Michael Maloney, 2012.54. © Julie Heffernan

Dreamland exhibition view | image courtesy of McNay Art Museum

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Peter Rice, Costume design for Dr. Kalterfelto in English Eccentrics, 1967. Ink and watercolor on paper. Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Gift of The Tobin Endowment, TL2002.220.9.

Marilyn Lanfear, Marilyn with no middle name, She’ll have one when she marries from The Wardrobe as Destiny Series, 1989. Lead, wood, and wings of the dove of the Holy Spirit. Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Given anonymously, 1996.35.

Eugene Berman, Curtain design for Pulcinella, 1972. Watercolor and ink on paper. Collection of the McNay Art Museum, Gift of The Tobin Endowment, TL2001.27.34.