A new immersive exhibition celebrating the life and work of Jerry Garcia will open in San Francisco in early 2027 before touring across the United States.
“Titled Eyes of the World: The Jerry Garcia Experience,” the 40,000-square-foot exhibition will incorporate the Grateful Dead guitarist’s music, visual art, writings, and personal interests across eight immersive rooms. The project takes its name from the 1973 Grateful Dead song of the same name.
The exhibition is based on a concept Garcia began developing himself more than 30 years ago with friends author Ken Kesey and producer Cary Granat. The trio originally envisioned an animated film and location-based experience centered around Garcia’s ideas about creativity, community, and individual freedom. Granat has now joined forces with Garcia’s daughter Keelin, his wife Manasha, and a team of producers and artists to complete the vision.
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“My father began creating this exhibit with Cary more than 30 years ago. It was his dream project,” Keelin Garcia said. “Bringing it to life as he imagined is a deeply meaningful experience. We are honored to work with the people he trusted creatively.”
The exhibition will trace Garcia’s formative years in San Francisco, his work in music and sound technology, his visual art, philanthropic efforts, and his interest in scuba diving and ocean conservation. One section will transport visitors in time to 1966 Golden Gate Park and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood as they appeared.
Each visit will conclude with an evening performance from a rotating selection of Jerry Garcia tribute acts in an on-site music venue. Organizers say the exhibition will continue to evolve as additional archival materials and other elements are added.
Following its San Francisco debut, Eyes of the World is expected to travel to Chicago, Nashville, New York, Los Angeles, and other US cities. Exact dates, locations, and ticketing information have not yet been announced.
A portion of the exhibition’s proceeds will benefit arts education, music programs, and environmental conservation through the Jerry Garcia Foundation. Fans can register for ticket updates through the project’s website.
The announcement arrives during a sacred stretch on the Deadhead calendar known as the “Days Between,” spanning Garcia’s August 1st birthday and the anniversary of his death on August 9th. It also comes exactly one year after Dead & Company wrapped GD60, a three-night Golden Gate Park celebration of the Grateful Dead’s 60th anniversary, in San Francisco.