Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity

Delve into the six-decade career of legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby (1917–1994). This exhibition goes beyond the page, featuring original comic illustrations, fine art, and commercial art—many on view for the first time—and his experiences as a first-generation Jewish American whose faith remained important throughout his life.

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Admission

BUY/RESERVE NOW

BUY/RESERVE NOW WITH NOAH'S ARK TIMED ENTRY

$18 General
$13 Seniors, Full-Time Students with ID, and Children 2–17
FREE to Members and Children under 2
FREE to all on Thursdays

General Admission tickets provide visitors access to all exhibitions on view at the Skirball, including Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity. Visitors who would like to board Noah’s Ark, which requires timed entry, should purchase a separate Noah's Ark ticket (which also includes general admission access).

"While there have been plenty of tributes and spotlights on Jack 'King' Kirby, and plenty of books written about the comic book legend, there has never been anything as cool and awesome as the Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity exhibition that opened this week at the Skirball Cultural Center." —The Hollywood Reporter

About the Exhibition

Captain America. The Fantastic Four. The Avengers. OMAC. The X-Men. The Black Panther. Mister Miracle. The Incredible Hulk. The New Gods. These iconic superheroes are among the best-known of the many characters first brought to life by comic book artist Jack Kirby (1917–1994). Over the course of an extraordinary six-decade career, Kirby created some of the most enduring characters and storylines in the history of American comics. Along the way, he expanded the emotional and intellectual horizons of the comic book medium, championed diversity, and helped establish the visual vocabulary of modern popular culture.

Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity traces his experiences as a first-generation Jewish American born to immigrant parents in Manhattan’s storied Lower East Side, a soldier who fought in World War II, a successful commercial artist who worked in marginalized creative industries, a mentor to a generation of younger comic creators, a resident of New York and Los Angeles, and a proud family man whose Jewish faith remained important throughout his life. This exhibition features original comic illustrations alongside Kirby’s other works, many on view for the first time, considering his fine art and commercial art as equally significant and worthy of recognition.

Today, Kirby remains a pivotal figure in American popular culture, and his influence in the worlds of comics, film, animation, graphic design, and pop art is evident more than thirty years after his passing.

"I think there's something about comics and good storytelling that's a marriage, and they (the fans) realize that. That's the wonderful thing about comics: It puts the idea of published storytelling in the hands of the ordinary guy. That's American." —Jack Kirby

Tours

Join a docent-led public tour of this exhibition!
Beginning Thursday, May 29.
Tuesday–Friday, 2:00 pm
Saturday–Sunday, 12:00 and 2:00 pm

Note: Public Tours are subject to cancellation.

Curatorial Acknowledgments

This exhibition was co-curated by independent curators Patrick A. Reed and Professor Ben Saunders.

The organizing curator is Michele Urton, Museum Deputy Director at the Skirball Cultural Center.

In the News

New Jack Kirby exhibit unveils the life of comic book legend
KCRW | May 2, 2025

‘Heroes and Humanity’ Retrospective Honoring Jack Kirby, Creator of Iron Man, Hulk, Black Panther and The X-Men, Opens in Los Angeles
Variety | May 1, 2025

‘Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity’ celebrates a comic book legend at the Skirball
Los Angeles Daily News | May 1, 2025

‘Heroes and Humanity’ explores career of Jack Kirby
Beverly Press (p. 16) | May 1, 2025

Discover a Marvel mastermind and see Jack Kirby's comic book art on display
ABC7 Eyewitness News | April 30, 2025

How a Lower East Side Jew conquered the multiverse
Forward | April 30, 2025

The Skirball Debuts ‘Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity’ and ‘Away in the Catskills’ Exhibits
TheWrap | April 28, 2025

Donor Support

The exhibition Jack Kirby: Heroes and Humanity and its related educational programs at the Skirball Cultural Center are made possible by presenting donor Brandon Beck with additional support from Stephanie and Harold Bronson, Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary, The Dennis and Brooks Holt Foundation, Marvel Studios, and U.S. Bank.