Jun 13, 2024

Pick of the Weekend: Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip Hop Jewelry

Looking to cool off on a hot day? Head over to Ice Cold: An Exhibition of Hip Hop Jewelry at the American Museum of Natural History. The exhibition, which runs from May 9th through January 5th, showcases a stunning collection of jewelry on loan from some of the biggest names in Hip Hop.

Ice Cold, which feels like a love letter to New York, builds off this year’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop as a global phenomenon.

The show reflects the artistry and style entwined with New York’s prolific history of Hip Hop and Rap culture. The carefully curated collection features iconic pieces from the 1980s to the current day and details how this innovative bling forever transformed both pop culture and high fashion.

Slick Rick, Crown and Eye Patch
Alvaro Keding/© AMNH

Located inside the Meister Gallery within the museum’s Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, you’ll get to view diamond-encrusted pieces of music history ranging from Jay-Z’s custom Audemars Piguet to Beyoncé’s rings.

A$AP Rocky, Lego Pendant
Alvaro Keding/© AMNH

Paying special attention to realizing a thorough overview of Hip Hop history, the curators have made sure to feature iconic women artists throughout the exhibition.

Up-close access to cases of shimmering pendants, glittering grills, and ornate crowns will delight your little ones while you explore dazzling artifacts of contemporary design.

Erykah Badu
Photograph by Tony Krash

Let your child take in the colors and textures of everything from A$AP Rocky's multi-colored diamond pendant shaped like a LEGO figurine to a10-pound gold chain worn by T-Pain, to a shimmering opal grill set commissioned by Erykah Badu.

The visual nature of the collection, displayed in cases set low to the ground, lets your little ones become immersed in the creativity and artistry of this exhibition while you explore five decades of legendary high fashion and culture.