Some collaborations feel commercial. Others feel cosmetic. But Polaroid x MoMA? Kinda feels like a match made in creative heaven. Bridging nostalgic charm with museum-worthy modernity, Polaroid has unveiled the Now Generation 3 MoMA Edition.
Cloaked in a striking monochrome blue and proudly stamped with the MoMA logo, it’s as much a conversation piece as it is a creative tool. At its heart, it’s still the Polaroid we know and love. Quick on the draw, easy to use, and endlessly fun. The dual-lens autofocus system ensures your shots hit the sweet spot between art and accident, while double exposure mode lets you play with light and layering like a proper visual poet.
Then there’s the film. A limited-edition i-Type series featuring graphic frames and artist quotes that feel like a miniature MoMA gift shop tucked in your back pocket, with words from renowned figures such as Vincent van Gogh, Betye Saar, and Milton Glaser. Let’s talk accessories; three wrist straps in punchy, graphic designs that makes it the kind of camera you wear, not just carry.
In an era of overly polished Instagram grids and AI-generated perfection, this collaboration is a refreshing reminder that creativity is messy, immediate, human. If you're a fellow camera fanatic like me, here are some of Polaroid’s standout collaborations from recent years.
Jean-Michel Basquiat never played by the rules, and neither does this Polaroid collaboration. Explosive, raw, and unmistakably bold, the limited-edition collection captures the spirit of an artist who turned chaos into culture. At the centre is the Polaroid Now Generation 2 i-Type Instant Camera, drenched in the frenetic energy of Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump. Each camera is hydro-dipped, meaning no two are ever the same, just like Basquiat’s work.
The vivid orange shoulder strap features flashes of Untitled (Crown) and World Famous Vol. 1 Thesis, where carrying it becomes a statement in itself. It’s the film that truly steals the show though, ten collectable frames adorned with Basquiat’s most iconic pieces. From the stark brilliance of Hollywood Africans to the electric chaos of Bird on Money, it's no longer just a camera, but a canvas. One that invites you to shoot like Basquiat painted, loud, and unapologetically original.
Artist collaborations often feel like marketing gimmicks wrapped in chaos, but the Polaroid Now Generation 2 Eames Edition stands out like a well-designed sigh of relief. This isn’t about hype, it’s about history. Back in 1972, Charles and Ray Eames teamed up with Polaroid founder Edwin Land to unveil the SX-70 with a mesmerising short film that turned tech into art. Fast-forward to today, and their grandson Eames Demetrios is bringing that creative dialogue full circle.
The new camera isn’t shouting for attention, it’s speaking in the Eames’ language of quiet sophistication. Finished in Elephant Hide Grey, what Charles once called “a black with feeling”, it swaps flashiness for feeling. The signature Toy pattern appears not as a bold print but as a thoughtful detail on the wrist strap. An Eames logo on the front grounds the design in legacy. Functionally, it’s clever with double exposure, self-timer, dual-lens autofocus, and crafted with 40% recycled materials.
Paul Giambarba left an indelible mark on Polaroid, transforming the brand’s visual identity with bold colour palettes and enduring graphic clarity. As a tribute to his pioneering design legacy, Polaroid has revived the original SX-70 film box. The vivid nod to Giambarba’s unmistakable aesthetic is compatible with both Polaroid SX-70 and I-2 cameras.
Inside, eight classic instant shots. Outside, a rare collector’s artefact that celebrates mid-century modernism at its finest. In keeping with Giambarba’s belief in creativity as a tool for education, 10 percent of proceeds from this edition goes to DonorsChoose, supporting hands-on learning initiatives selected by his family.
A limited-edition Colour Film inspired by Pantone’s 2024 Colour of the Year, Peach Fuzz—a soft, velvety hue symbolising warmth, and quiet optimism. In a world that often feels chaotic, this gentle shade offers a visual exhale, a reminder to slow down, connect, and nurture. It’s a sentiment deeply embedded in Polaroid’s DNA, where each frame becomes a canvas for emotion, memory, and unspoken feeling.
Instant photography has long served as a tool for intimate storytelling, allowing creators to capture fleeting moments and complex moods with honesty and grace. This special edition pack includes eight films tinted in that calming peach tone, compatible with Polaroid Now+, Now, I-2 cameras and the Lab Printer. It’s more than a colour, it’s a feeling you can hold in your hand.
