Met Museum to Renovate Ancient Near Eastern and Cypriot Galleries

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has announced a $40 million renovation of its galleries dedicated to ancient Cyprus and Western Asia, designed by Boston-based architecture firm NADAAA, led by Nader Tehrani. The project, part of a broader decade-long renewal initiative, will consolidate collections currently spread across 11 separate galleries into a single unified space on the second floor. The new layout will feature architectural backdrops highlighting materials like clay, copper, bronze, gold, silver, and lapis lazuli, and a large ramp connecting the ancient Near Eastern and Cypriot collections to improve visitor access and narrative flow. The renovation aims to reduce energy consumption by approximately 40%. This work joins the construction of a new modern art wing designed by Mexican architect Frida Escobedo, funded by a $125 million donation from Oscar Tang and Agnes Hsu-Tang. Met President and CEO Daniel H. Weiss stated that the collections span 10,000 years of art and history and are among the most comprehensive in the United States, emphasizing the institution's responsibility to present them in a contemporary and accessible manner. Director Max Hollein has overseen the museum's renewal efforts since 2018, navigating financial challenges. The new galleries are expected to open in 2025.