ticketsMember | Make a donation
A close-up of vivid bird feathers in shades of orange, teal, yellow, and brown, with overlaid text that reads 'Immaterial,' with the letters staggered vertically.
i

Immaterial

The Met‘s marquee podcast spanning 5,000 years of art, one material at a time.

About

Stories of the materials used in making art are often as thought-provoking and illuminating as the objects themselves. From The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Immaterial is a podcast that examines the materials of art and what they can reveal about history and humanity. Each episode looks at a single material, exploring the qualities and meanings that are often overlooked.

View previous seasons

Episodes

White "Immaterial" logo text superimposed on a close-up of colorful feathers.
Audio
Introducing: Immaterial Season 2
Revealing the stories behind the building blocks of creativity.
May 24, 2024
Detail of Adam's face.
Audio
Immaterial: Stone
Making and breaking legacies.
June 4, 2024
Sky with puffy blue and white clouds. A light blue sky peeks through the top right corner of the image.
Audio
Immaterial: Space, Part 1
Giving form to a feeling.
June 18, 2024
South-facing view of The Met exterior steps from the 5th Ave plaza. Sunlight hits the building facade, and the steps bustle with seated and standing visitors.
Audio
Immaterial: Space, Part 2
Behind the scenes at The Met.
July 2, 2024
Detail of a vibrant quilt made up of squares with narrow, rectangular strips of alternating colors.
Audio
Immaterial: Blankets and Quilts
Threads of identity.
July 16, 2024
Detail of lacquered tray with scenes from Virgil’s Aeneid. The section depicts figures fighting on horseback, ships at sea, and ornate floral motifs.
Audio
Immaterial: Chia
Beyond superfoods and infomercials.
July 30, 2024
Close up of ocean debris, including shells and rocks, against glittering black sand.
Audio
Immaterial: Trash
The archaeology of rubbish.
August 13, 2024
Detail of a guitar backside. The shiny mahogany wood has varying shades of brown, creating an almost marbled effect.
Audio
Immaterial: Wood
The most musical tree in the world.
August 27, 2024
Detail of a clock face with gold-colored accents, roman numeral numbers, and a counter for the date.
Audio
Immaterial: Time
Keeping digital art alive.
September 10, 2024

Credits


Immaterial is produced by The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Magnificent Noise.

Host: Camille Dungy

Production staff includes Salman Ahad Khan, Ann Collins, Samantha Henig, Eric Nuzum, Emma Vecchione, Sarah Wambold, and Jamie York. Additional staff includes Laura Barth, Julia Bordelon, Skyla Choi, Maria Kozanecka, and Rachel Smith.

This season would not be possible without Andrea Bayer, Inka Drögemüller, and Douglas Hegley.

Sound design by Ariana Martinez and Kristin Mueller

Original music by Austin Fisher

Fact-checking by Mary Mathis and Claire Hyman

Graphic Design: Mortimer Lebigre and Kamomi Solidum

Marketing, Communications, and Social Media: Ann Bailis, Meryl Cates, Claire Lanier, Taylor Latrowski, Jonathan Lee, Tiffany Lucke, Micah Pegues, and Gretchen Scott

Special thanks to Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong.

Immaterial is made possible by Dasha Zhukova Niarchos. Additional support is provided by the Zodiac Fund.

More Series from The Met

A black-and-white still from the 1928 film Behind the Scenes: The Working Side of the Museum, which depicts the superimposed image of an old-fashioned time-card machine over the face of a wall clock
From The Vaults
Audiovisual materials from the Museum’s extensive archive.
Woman holding a camera and filming a child in dancing attire, with text at the top reading "Africa's Cultural Landmarks"
Africa’s Cultural Landmarks
Short documentaries direct a local lens on some of Africa’s most notable cultural landscapes.
Composite image of Silas Farley sitting on a stool in an auditorium; Stephanie Post sitting in a chair in a library; and Tim Gunn standing in gallery space at The Met.
Met Stories
Met visitors share their personal stories in this award-winning video series.