THE MIG 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.
The Museum of Flight will also offer special programming and family events in conjunction with the exhibit. The exhibit is free for Museum Members and included with admission.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT
The Museum of Flight is the largest independent air and space museum in the world. As a top attraction in Seattle, it serves over 600,000 visitors annually. Its Collection includes more than 160 historically significant airplanes and spacecraft, millions of images, and the largest aviation and space library and archives on the West Coast. The Museum’s 23-acre campus is located south of downtown Seattle, and its 3-acre Restoration Center and Reserve Collection is in Everett, Wash. The Museum of Flight was founded in 1965, is accredited by the American Association of Museums, and is an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. More than 150,000 individuals are served annually by the Museum’s onsite and outreach educational programs.