This new exhibit at NYC's Museum of Sex explores cults and communes

"A new exhibit at the Museum of Sex New York seizes on that topic with its exploration of nonconforming, experimental lifestyles and the marks they've left on our society. From now until April 12, 2026, experience history and culture through the lens of American cults and communes at " Utopia: Three Centuries of Sexuality in American Cults and Communes." The two-story show features more than 300 artworks, photographs, films, records, garments and rare artifacts from 20 historical intentional communities."

"Curated by Jodi Willie-known for critically acclaimed films, documentaries and award-winning books-this groundbreaking exhibition traces how alternative spiritual communities across the United States have influenced and reimagined intimacy, gender and sexuality over the past several hundred years. Both scholarly and immersive, the collection shows how mainstream norms were challenged by the art, sexuality and rituals formed in these communities. In doing so, they offered Americans alternative models of intimacy and belonging to identify with."

""Utopia" reframes the history of American spiritual subcultures through the lens of desire, intimacy and creative reinvention among the following communities, including: Shakers, Oneida Community, The Source Family, Church of All Worlds, Cockettes, Kerista Commune, Rajneesh/Osho, Dean and Dudley Evenson, Unarius Academy of Science, House of David, Father Divine and The Farm. "These communities were laboratories for rethinking nearly every aspect of life, including sexuality, spirituality, gender, family and art," Willie said in a statement. "Through their archives and creative expression, we witn"

A two-story exhibition at the Museum of Sex in New York runs through April 12, 2026, presenting more than 300 artworks, photographs, films, records, garments and rare artifacts from 20 historical intentional communities. Curated by Jodi Willie, the exhibition traces how alternative spiritual communities across the United States influenced and reimagined intimacy, gender and sexuality over several hundred years. The collection combines scholarly research with immersive displays to show how art, sexuality and rituals challenged mainstream norms and offered alternative models of intimacy and belonging. Featured communities range from Shakers and Oneida to Rajneesh/Osho and The Farm.

Read at Time Out New York