Costume Art at the Met: 400 Objects, $10 Million from Bezos, and 12 Body Types
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has unveiled its new Condé Nast Galleries, showcasing Andrew Bolton's Costume Art. This expansive 1,100-square-meter venue opened on 14 May and will remain accessible until 10 January 2027. A generous $10 million donation from Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez supports the exhibition, which includes 200 garments and accessories alongside 200 artworks, resulting in a total of 400 items. Approximately 600,000 visitors are expected to attend. Bolton categorizes the pieces into two sections: Bodily Being in Its Diversity and Bodily Being in Its Universality, using custom-made mannequins to challenge traditional ideals, as noted by Aldo Premoli, who emphasizes the focus on the body rather than brands.
Key facts
- Costume Art is on view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York until 10 January 2027
- The show occupies the Condé Nast Galleries, 1,100 square meters built over a former garden and souvenir shop at the Great Hall entrance
- Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez donated $10 million and are named first on the introductory panel
- The exhibition comprises 400 objects: 200 garments and accessories plus 200 works from the Met's collections
- Estimated attendance stands at around 600,000 visitors
- Curator Andrew Bolton divided the show into 12 body types across two sections, Bodily Being in Its Diversity and Bodily Being in Its Universality
- The exhibition opened around the Met Gala on 14 May
- Mannequins were custom-made and modeled on specific individuals
Entities
Artists
- Andrew Bolton
- Jeff Bezos
- Lauren Sanchez
- Aldo Premoli
Institutions
- Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Condé Nast Galleries
- Amazon
- Artribune
- Met Gala
Locations
- New York
- United States
- 1000 Fifth Avenue