TORONTO.- From sacred traditions stewarded over millennia to cutting-edge contemporary mental-health research, psychedelics have had a profound influence on societies throughout history. How we understand these age-old substances has significant implications – an issue expansively examined in a kaleidoscopic new exhibition opening this summer at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM).
Running until December 6, 2026, Psychedelics: Art. Culture. Science. explores the cross-cultural and scientific importance of altered states of consciousness. Deeply rooted in Indigenous, cultural, and scientific knowledge, the exhibition – featuring artworks, objects, specimens, and interactives – makes sense of a topic which has often been too contentious to tackle.
The initial concept for this ROM-original exhibition was developed collaboratively by Dr. Justin Jennings, ROM Senior Curator, Archaeology of the Americas, and Colin Fleming, ROM Executive Writer and Creative Communications Strategist. Together, they shaped the idea of exploring both the deep historical roots and contemporary scientific research on psychedelics. As co-editors, they also collaborated on the exhibition catalogue – building on Jennings’s archaeological fieldwork that revealed the first direct evidence of hallucinogen consumption by members of the Wari Empire, which ruled the Peruvian highlands from 600–1000 AD.
To create an exhibition focused on such a multifaceted topic that spans thousands of years of cultural and scientific history, ROM also drew on the input and expertise of a group of more than 30 Canadian and international subject-matter experts and community advisors.
Showcasing 90 objects from across ROM’s collection as well as loaned items from global institutions and communities from around the world, Psychedelics presents an eye-popping array of large-scale paintings, 1960s rock posters, botanical specimens, and cultural belongings, artworks, and textiles.
“By foregrounding diverse cultural practices and the latest research, Psychedelics: Art. Culture. Science. helps make sense of this topical and timely subject,” says Jennifer Wild, ROM Interim Co-Director & CEO. “The result is an exhibition as thought-provoking as it is immersive, layered with compelling works of art and culture alongside fascinating natural history specimens.”
Psychedelics thoughtfully contextualizes this class of mind-altering drugs, starting with an introduction to the four ‘classic’ psychedelics that act on the brain in a similar way: psilocybin, LSD, mescaline, and DMT – while also foregrounding traditional and modern-day Indigenous and cultural practices from around the world.
“This exhibition aims to expand understanding, inspire critical reflection, and prompt discussion,” says exhibition curator Justin Jennings. “While the topic of psychedelics is incredibly complex, there is much to learn from different traditions from around the world that can help us build a healthier and better-connected world ahead.”
Presented in phases that traverse the past and present of psychedelics, the exhibition prompts reflection and invites dialogue about the role these substances can play in our society through exploring big questions: how psychedelics work, where they come from, why people use psychedelics, what the 1960s psychedelics era was all about, and what their future potential could be.
Psychedelics also highlights the rise in global studies on psychedelic therapy for mental-health conditions. This includes the largest clinical trial of psilocybin (the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms”) for people with treatment-resistant depression at 22 sites in 10 countries, with Toronto’s Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) as the sole Canadian site.
“Psychedelics sit at a fascinating intersection of science, medicine, culture, and human experience,” says Dr. Ishrat Husain, Senior Scientist and Psychiatrist at CAMH, and a consultant on the exhibition. “What makes this moment so important is that modern research is allowing us to revisit these compounds with scientific rigor, humility, and a strong commitment to ethics and patient safety, while deepening our understanding of the mind and mental-health problems like depression.”
Better understanding the psychedelic experience is at the heart of Psychedelics. One of the most intriguing elements of the exhibition, an immersive multimedia space, presents sights and sounds that evoke the striking visuals and multi-stage journey of a psychedelic trip – complete with sharpened textures, repeating fractals, and complex audio soundscapes.
From the medical to the transcendent, Psychedelics: Art. Culture. Science. offers a unique window into the rich history and evolving future of psychedelics – opening minds to both the tangible pitfalls and potential promise of these often-misunderstood compounds.
Note: ROM does not recommend or encourage the use of psychedelics or provide instructions for their use. Most psychedelics remain illegal in many countries around the world, including Canada.
