Disney Museum Unveils Expanded Eyvind Earle Exhibition in San Francisco

The Walt Disney Family Museum is set to showcase the work of Eyvind Earle, one of Disney's foundational artists, in an exhibition titled Awaking Beauty: The Art of Eyvind Earle. This reimagined version of the museum's 2017 Earle retrospective was co-curated by Ioan Szasz and Marina Villar Delgado.

The exhibit will feature over 200 works, including more than 35 loaned and recently acquired paintings never before displayed at the museum. These pieces showcase Earle's studio work alongside his wider career as a fine artist and printmaker. Additionally, audiovisual material such as a trailer for West Side Story and a Chevrolet commercial will be included, highlighting how his work extended beyond animation.

Earle is best known for establishing the visual language of Disney's Sleeping Beauty (1959), drawing inspiration from medieval tapestries, illuminated manuscripts, Northern European painting, and American landscapes. His influence can also be seen in later Disney productions, including Pocahontas and Frozen, as well as Disneyland Paris' Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Awaking Beauty will run through April 18, 2027, with museum members able to preview the exhibition on October 22. Tickets are available on the museum's website for the general public.