While chess is often considered a serious game, it can also be fun and artistic. The World Chess Hall of Fame’s new exhibit, Paws and Pawns: Exploring Animal Chess Sets, on view January 30 through August 31, highlights the artistic side of the game. Featured artists looked to animals to reimagine familiar chess pieces in a new way. Viewers can expect to see an array of animals—from mice and frogs to lions and black widow spiders.
The collection features a variety of sets, some dated as far back as the 19th century and others made as recently as late 2024. Emily Allred, curator at the World Chess Hall of Fame, describes these pieces as “tiny works of art.”
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“I wanted to have a diverse range of animals in the show,” Allred says. “I wanted people to be able to see their favorite animal. We have some that are creepy crawly black widows, but a lot of really fun and cuddly animals too, like cats and dogs. I wanted to keep the show lighthearted and fun.”
The exhibit also features the work of local artists, including a standout piece by Justin King: a 10-foot sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus Rex holding a king piece in his mouth as it bursts through a wall. Sophie Binder’s wood-engraved chess set will be on view as well, which features images of several creatures.
“I wanted sets that were handmade or unique,” Allred says. “One thing that was really cool was working with some artists that we had been in touch with before but hadn’t exhibited their work.”
Some of these new sets on view are borrowed from prominent collectors from across the country, including Chess Collectors International—an organization dedicated to preserving the art and history of the game—which lent several rare sets to Paws and Pawns.
Several of the exhibited artists play with traditional symbolism in their pieces, challenging ideas of what animals have the most power in the natural world. This playfulness gives a new level of significance to animals seen as small or feeble.
“The people who created these sets are kind of turning the symbolism of the animals on its head,” Allred says. “They’re making tiny mice into powerful pieces on the board that can take out others. In other cases, the symbolism seemed a little bit more self-apparent, like the lion with a crown on his head.”
To complement the exhibit, the museum will also feature curated programming related to Paws and Pawns. Local artists Justin King and Sophie Binder will conduct workshops, and patrons can attend an event featuring kittens in collaboration with the Belleville Humane Society. More information can be found on the museum’s website.
Through these thoughtful sets, Allred hopes viewers will develop a deepened connection with the game of chess.
“I hope that [viewers] are inspired by the creativity of the different creators and artists behind the chess sets,” Allred says. “I hope that they’re inspired to go home and make their own and I hope that if they’re thinking about getting into the game, it inspires them to learn more.”
