Met's Costume Institute to Stage Major John Galliano Retrospective in 2027

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York has announced that its Costume Institute will dedicate its spring 2027 exhibition to British designer John Galliano. Titled 'John Galliano: Horizons', it will be the first major museum show to survey his entire creative career, from his 1984 graduation collection at Central Saint Martins to his tenures at Givenchy, Christian Dior, and Maison Margiela, culminating with his acclaimed spring-summer 2024 collection. The exhibition will be on view from May 9, 2027, to January 9, 2028, at the Met Fifth Avenue, drawing largely from the Costume Institute's collection, which holds the world's largest group of Galliano's creations. Curated by Andrew Bolton, the Costume Institute's head, the show will be organized into three sections: 'Bearings', 'Horizons', and 'Atlas of Transformation'. It will also address the controversies of Galliano's career, including his antisemitic, racist, and anti-Asian statements made between 2010 and 2011, which led to his dismissal from Dior and his own label and a conviction by French courts. The exhibition aims to explore the relationship between artistic excellence, individual responsibility, and institutional recognition, rather than a simple narrative of fall and redemption. The Met Gala, scheduled for May 3, 2027, will honor Galliano as the guest of honor.