THE MIG-21 PROJECT | THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT

(Seattle, Washington) —The Museum of Flight’s major new exhibit for 2025 opens June 21 with the world premiere of The MiG-21 Project, South African artist Ralph Ziman’s 5-year, multidisciplinary project transforming a 51-foot by 24-foot decommissioned Cold War era, Soviet-designed MiG-21 fighter jet into a stunning work of art, entirely covered in tens of millions of colorful glass beads. The re-imagined jet turns an icon of violence into a symbol of resilience and collaboration, and is the centerpiece of the exhibit, which will be on view until Jan. 26, 2026.

The exhibit marks the first public display of the reclaimed jet, and three rooms of the Museum’s Special Exhibits Gallery have been transformed to visualize the historical depth of the MiG-21 Project and the Weapons of Mass Production Trilogy. The gallery experience includes original artwork, Afrofuturistic flight suits designed and crafted by the artist and his team, large-scale photographs, videos, and interactives. New materials from The Museum of Flight detail the history of  MiG-21 aircraft, the Cold War, and how other military aircraft—some held in the museum’s collection—have been repurposed for civilian duties.

FILM PREMIERE & PANEL DISCUSSION

June 21, 2025 | 2 pm to 3:30 pm | The Museum of Flight

The 25-minute long documentary details the entirety of the artistic process from Ralph Ziman’s inspiration for the project and acquisition of the MiG-21, to the international collaboration to create the beadwork and assemble the art piece, leading up to the project’s unveiling at The Museum of Flight.

WATCH THE FULL DOCUMENTARY | WATCH THE PANEL DISCUSSION 

SELECT WORKS AT THE SEATTLE ART FAIR

July 17 – 20, 2025 | Booth #E01

A curated selection from The MiG-21 Project will be on display at the Seattle Art Fair including large-scale beaded panels, photography and sculpture.