ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

2026 Met Gala Looks Inspired by Iconic Artworks from Nefertiti to Gentileschi

other · 2026-05-05

The 2026 Met Gala, held on the first Monday in May at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, featured a dress code titled 'Fashion is Art.' The accompanying exhibition 'Costume Art' juxtaposes clothing with art objects. Seven celebrities drew inspiration from iconic artworks. Ciara wore a gold ensemble by Celia Kritharioti inspired by the Bust of Nefertiti (c. 1345 BC). Kylie Jenner wore a Schiaparelli gown referencing the Venus de Milo (c. 150–125 BC). Madonna wore a massive Saint Laurent ensemble by Anthony Vaccarello inspired by Leonora Carrington's 'The Temptation of St. Anthony' (1945). Angela Bassett wore a pink Prabal Gurung dress inspired by Laura Wheeler Waring's 'Girl in Pink Dress' (1927). Ben Platt wore a pastel suit by Tanner Fletcher inspired by Georges Seurat's 'A Sunday on La Grande Jatte' (1884). Emma Chamberlain wore a hand-painted gown by Castro Freitas (painted by Anna Deller-Yee) referencing Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' and Munch's 'The Scream.' Lena Dunham wore a red Valentino gown with feathers inspired by Artemisia Gentileschi's 'Judith Beheading Holofernes' (1620).

Key facts

  • 2026 Met Gala held on first Monday in May at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  • Dress code: 'Fashion is Art.'
  • Exhibition 'Costume Art' juxtaposes clothing and art objects.
  • Ciara inspired by Bust of Nefertiti (c. 1345 BC), wore Celia Kritharioti.
  • Kylie Jenner inspired by Venus de Milo (c. 150–125 BC), wore Schiaparelli.
  • Madonna inspired by Leonora Carrington's 'The Temptation of St. Anthony' (1945), wore Anthony Vaccarello for Saint Laurent.
  • Angela Bassett inspired by Laura Wheeler Waring's 'Girl in Pink Dress' (1927), wore Prabal Gurung.
  • Ben Platt inspired by Georges Seurat's 'A Sunday on La Grande Jatte' (1884), wore Tanner Fletcher.
  • Emma Chamberlain inspired by Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' and Munch's 'The Scream', wore Castro Freitas painted by Anna Deller-Yee.
  • Lena Dunham inspired by Artemisia Gentileschi's 'Judith Beheading Holofernes' (1620), wore Valentino.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Locations

  • New York City
  • United States
  • Paris
  • France
  • Berlin
  • Germany
  • Amarna
  • Egypt
  • Milos
  • Greece
  • Mexico
  • Florence
  • Italy
  • Rome
  • Naples
  • Oslo
  • Norway
  • Chicago
  • New York
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Avenue, New York
  • Brussels
  • Belgium
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Arles
  • Den Haag
  • Netherlands
  • Syracuse
  • Vienna
  • Austria

Sources

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