Musichead Gallery proudly presents Come As You Are: Grunge, Counterculture, and the Seattle Sound, on view February 20 through April 4, 2026. The exhibition opens Friday, February 20, from 7 pm to 9 pm, celebrating Kurt Cobain’s birthday with an opening night reception.

Featuring work by Charles Peterson, Ebet Roberts, Jay Blakesberg, Jesse Frohman, Karen Mason Blair, Kirk Weddle, Lance Mercer, and Michael Lavine, the exhibition brings viewers from intimate clubs to larger stages, documenting the rise of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains while tracing grunge’s broader cultural impact and enduring influence.

Come As You Are takes a wider look at grunge, examining the energy, ethos, and attitude that carried the music far beyond its Pacific Northwest origins. The exhibition traces how grunge began as a rejection of glossy arena rock and commercial excess and later evolved into a global cultural force. Rooted in punk’s DIY values and shaped by the weight of metal, grunge gave voice to alienation, economic anxiety, addiction, and distrust of consumer culture, even as the industries it resisted ultimately repackaged it for mass consumption.

Women were central to this history. Closely intertwined with grunge, the Riot Grrrl movement challenged sexism within alternative music while confronting issues of sexual violence, gender inequality, and personal autonomy. Bands including Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney, 7 Year Bitch, The Gits, L7, and Hole expanded the scene’s political and sonic range, shaping its creative direction and cultural legacy.

At a moment when underground movements are quickly aestheticized and monetized, grunge’s struggle over authenticity feels strikingly contemporary.

The opening reception is free with RSVP. Tickets and additional information are available at Musichead.com.