Opening September 2, 2026
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Image: Louise Bourgeois by Nancy Lee Katz, 1986. Gift of Michael S. Sachs, 2024.1.17
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The Magnes Collection
The material culture of Jewish life throughout history and across the globe.
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Upcoming Exhibition
SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 – MAY 13, 2027
Nancy Lee Katz: A Private Pantheon
Nancy Lee Katz: A Private Pantheon explores the artist’s decades-long effort to photograph artists, writers, musicians, and thinkers she admired. Between 1986 and 2010, Nancy Lee Katz photographed nearly 200 cultural figures creating a photographic “temple.” Made in studios, workplaces, and other intimate settings, these portraits reveal the interplay between public achievement and private presence. Presented in two parts over the course of a year, the exhibition offers a rare opportunity to experience the breadth of Katz’s enduring vision.
Nancy Lee Katz (1947–2018), Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 1994, Gelatin silver print, Gift of Michael S. Sachs, 2024.1.51.
NEWS
Woven into the Fabric: 250 Years of Jewish Life in America
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life reminds us how deeply Jewish history is woven into the American story. The objects in the collection tell a powerful narrative about the many ways Jewish people, art, and culture helped build the country. They help bring the traditional American motto, E Pluribus Unum (“Out of Many, One”), to life—reflecting a shared history while honoring the distinct cultural differences that shape it.
Latest News
News about the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life. Learn about exhibitions, programs, events, and collection highlights.
Nancy Lee Katz: A Private Pantheon opens at the Magnes this fall
A two-part exhibition exploring decades of intimate portraits of cultural giants. The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life at the University of California, Berkeley, announces its upcoming two-part exhibition, Nancy Lee Katz: A Private Pantheon, opening on...
Woven into the Fabric: 250 Years of Jewish Life in America
As the United States marks its 250th anniversary, the Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life reminds us how deeply Jewish history is woven into the American story. The objects in the collection tell a powerful narrative about the many ways Jewish people, art, and...
The Magnes launches Maven, a new digital gateway to global Jewish heritage
The Magnes Collection of Jewish Art and Life at the University of California, Berkeley, is proud to announce the launch of Maven, its new, user-friendly online collections catalog. Developed by Terentia, a leader in integrated software for collections management,...
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The Magnes Collection’s “What’s On” e-newsletter provides up-to-date news about the collection, exhibitions, and programs.
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