Max Zorn’s commissioned for several artworks by Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum
Exhibitions and Artwork in Ripley’s Museums
Commissioned and Acquired Works: Ripley’s Believe It or Not! has directly acquired and displayed Max Zorn’s unique tape artworks in its museums (“Odditoriums”). According to a 2015 tape art blog, Zorn created commissioned pieces for Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum in Orlando, Florida alltapesdepot.com. In fact, Ripley’s officials were so impressed with Zorn’s packing tape art that in 2013 they purchased several of his works to include in their Odditoriums worldwide minilua.net. One translated report (sourced from Ripley’s own site) states: “We were so impressed with [Max Zorn’s] tape art in 2013, that we bought several [pieces] to include in our Odditoriums” minilua.net. This indicates that multiple Ripley’s museums have showcased his art since the early 2010s.
Notable Displays: At least one of Zorn’s illuminated tape portraits is part of Ripley’s London collection – Ripley’s confirmed that “the piece shown in [a Ripley’s] video is now in our Odditorium of London” minilua.net. In Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood (Los Angeles), a large Marilyn Monroe tape-art portrait by Zorn was featured as part of a Marilyn Monroe exhibit. A visitor photo caption refers to “Marilyn Packing Tape Art @ The Marilyn Monroe Exhibition @ Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Hollywood” mapquest.com. Zorn himself has noted on social media that this Marilyn Monroe artwork was commissioned by Ripley’s a few years prior instagram.com. These examples demonstrate that Zorn’s distinctive tape artworks have been on public display in Ripley’s museum attractions (from Orlando to Hollywood to London).
Features in Ripley’s Media (Articles, Books, Video)
Official Ripley’s Profiles: Max Zorn has been featured by Ripley’s Believe It or Not! in their media and press. Ripley’s official website ran a profile on him – notably an article titled “This Artist’s Packing Tape Art Is Stunning” – which introduced Zorn’s work to Ripley’s audience static.fnac-static.com. (This piece included a video demonstration of his tape art, and as noted, the finished artwork from that video was later installed in Ripley’s London museum minilua.net.)
The Minilua news site (translating Ripley’s content) confirms Ripley’s purchased multiple Zorn pieces for their museums and even notes the Odditorium locations where they reside minilua.net minilua.net.
Sources
- All Tapes Depot Blog – “Tapes and Art” (Aug. 22, 2015), confirming Max Zorn created commissioned tape-art pieces for Ripley’s Orlando alltapesdepot.com.
- Minilua (via Ripley’s) – “A arte da fita adesiva de Max Zorn é impressionante” (May 28, 2020), a Portuguese article adapted from Ripley’s, stating Ripley’s bought several of Zorn’s works in 2013 for their Odditoriums and placed a new piece in Ripley’s London minilua.net minilua.net.
- MapQuest (user-submitted image captions) – Noting a “Marilyn [Monroe] Packing Tape Art” on display at Ripley’s Hollywood exhibit mapquest.com.
- Wallhop Art Interview – “Q&A with artist Max Zorn” (c.2014), which lists Ripley’s Believe It or Not! as one of the outlets that featured Zorn’s work wallhop.com.
- Max Zorn Official Timeline – “Public Collections (2017)” entry, citing that Ripley’s museum franchise exhibited Zorn’s tape portrait as a “Sticky Masterpiece” in an extraordinary art materials show maxzorn.com.
- Wikipedia (Max Zorn page, references) – notes that Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (ripleys.com) profiled Zorn’s tape art in an article titled “This Artist’s Packing Tape Art Is Stunning.” static.fnac-static.com.
Source Material:
Max Zorn’s illuminated packing tape portrait of Marilyn Monroe, commissioned by Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, displayed in the Hollywood Odditorium, Los Angeles.