Costume Institute unveils permanent Condé M. Nast galleries
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 7
Costume Institute unveils permanent Condé M. Nast galleries
8 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 7
The 12,000-square-foot space replaces the Met's former gift shop beside the Great Hall information desk, moving fashion from the basement to a prominent entrance location.
The shift signals the Metropolitan Museum of Art's stronger embrace of fashion as a major draw, with Costume Institute shows accounting for five of its 10 most-visited modern exhibitions.
The opening, alongside the exhibition "Costume Art," is presented as closing an 80-year argument over whether clothing belongs within major Western art institutions.
Is the Met's embrace of fashion a true artistic validation or a smart business move fueled by blockbuster shows and galas?
The Met's new exhibit celebrates all bodies, but can this message coexist with the exclusive, billionaire-funded gala that supports it?
Inside The Met’s 2026 "Costume Art" Launch: Architectural Innovation, Anna Wintour’s Vision, and Cultural Shifts
Overview
In May 2026, The Metropolitan Museum of Art launched the groundbreaking "Costume Art" exhibition in its newly designed Condé Nast Galleries, a space thoughtfully created by Peterson Rich Office to blend historic architecture with modern design. Curated by Andrew Bolton, who chose the bold title to assert fashion's equivalency to traditional art, the exhibition was supported by major sponsors including Jeff and Lauren Bezos, Saint Laurent, and Condé Nast. The event was heralded by the Met Gala themed "Fashion is Art," a collaboration between Bolton and Anna Wintour, who has led the Costume Institute since 1995. The exhibition embraced radical inclusivity and challenged societal views on the body, setting a new standard for fashion as a serious art form and influencing future museum practices.