ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

John Galliano's Met Show Canceled Amid Antisemitism Scandal

exhibition · 2026-08-01

After being dismissed from Dior for making antisemitic and racist comments, John Galliano (Gibraltar, 1960) was slated to have a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, named 'John Galliano: Horizons', set for May 2027. However, on August 31, 2026, the exhibition was canceled due to backlash related to a 2011 incident at La Perle bar in Paris, where he was accused of making racial and antisemitic remarks. Galliano was convicted in June 2011 and fined €6,000. He made his return to the fashion industry in 2014 with Maison Margiela. The Met's July 2026 announcement sparked criticism, reigniting discussions about the separation of art from the artist.

Key facts

  • John Galliano was fired from Dior in 2011 after antisemitic and racist remarks.
  • The Met's planned exhibition 'John Galliano: Horizons' was canceled on August 31, 2026.
  • The exhibition was scheduled for May 2027 at the Costume Institute.
  • The 2011 incident occurred at La Perle bar in Paris's Marais district.
  • A video published by The Sun showed Galliano making antisemitic insults and declaring love for Hitler.
  • Galliano was convicted in September 2011 and fined €6,000 with a suspended sentence.
  • In 2014, Galliano became creative director of Maison Margiela.
  • The 2023 documentary 'High & Low – John Galliano' was directed by Kevin Macdonald.
  • The Met show would have been the third solo exhibition for a living designer at the Costume Institute.
  • The cancellation followed criticism in the U.S. over honoring Galliano.

Entities

Artists

Institutions

Locations

  • Gibraltar
  • New York
  • Paris
  • Marais
  • United States
  • France
  • Manhattan

Sources

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