Sculptor Anouska Samms Claims Credit for Met Costume Institute Dress

A dispute over authorship has erupted regarding a dress in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's "Costume Art" exhibition. London-based sculptor, weaver, and filmmaker Anouska Samms claims she co-created the garment Corpus Nervina 0.0 (2023-24) with New York-based Israeli fashion designer Yoav Hadari, but the Met credits only Hadari. Samms says she and Hadari collaborated in 2023 while both were residents at the Sarabande Foundation, producing a "Hair Dress" using Samms's proprietary hair-based textile. The Met initially expressed interest in acquiring that dress but plans fell through. Instead, Hadari offered two ensembles of his own design, including Corpus Nervina 0.0, which Samms says resembles their collaborative work. A contract signed in October 2023, drafted by Sarabande head Trino Verkade, states Samms is the sole owner of the fabric's intellectual property and granted a one-year license. Samms's lawyer Jon Sharples argues Hadari cannot act unilaterally. Hadari maintains that Corpus Nervina 0.0 was created without Samms's textile and that his rights cover the design, name, concept, and construction. The Met declined to comment, leaving the artists to resolve their differences. Samms seeks credit and £1,000 in payment.