Metropolitan Museum of Art

Adrienne L. Childs

Adrienne L. Childs, an art historian and curator, has extensively written on the themes of race and representation within both European and American art. She currently serves as Senior Consulting Curator at The Phillips Collection, where she co-curated the exhibition "Vivian Browne: My Kind of Protest" in collaboration with the Contemporary Art Center in Cincinnati. Additionally, she curated "Riffs and Relations: African American Artists and the European Modernist Tradition" at The Phillips Collection. Her latest publication, "Ornamental Blackness: The Black Figure in European Decorative Arts," examines Black figures within European decorative art contexts. In recognition of her significant contributions to African American art and art history, Childs was honored with the 2022 Driskell Prize from the High Museum of Art.

Ink and Ivory: Indian Drawings and Photographs Selected with James Ivory

This exhibition celebrates a recent gift to the Museum, showcasing a remarkable selection of drawings and photographs that delve into the court life and culture of India and Pakistan from the late 16th century to the 20th century. It features both informal preparatory sketches and intricately finished works alongside photographs, emphasizing the interconnectedness of drawing, photography, and film. Additionally, a short film directed by Dev Benegal will be presented as part of the exhibition.

Caspar David Friedrich: The Soul of Nature

The Soul of Nature

In celebration of Friedrich's 250th birthday, this major exhibition showcases more than 75 works by the German Romantic artist, offering a glimpse into his world of nature. It is the first comprehensive exhibition in the United States dedicated to the foremost representative of German Romanticism, featuring a variety of Friedrich's paintings and drawings, along with works by other contemporary artists.

The Genesis Facade Commission: Lee Bul, Long Tail Halo

This large-scale installation by renowned South Korean artist Lee Bul was specifically created for the facade of The Met Fifth Avenue. It marks the fifth project in the Genesis Facade Commission series and Lee's first major project in the United States in over 20 years. This body of work challenges traditional notions of sculpture and reflects current societal currents, blending classical motifs with modern interpretations. The installation consists of a suite of four new works that highlight how art can both celebrate and destabilize our understanding of history, symbolizing humanity's ongoing struggle towards progress while acknowledging the inherent challenges and setbacks of these aspirations.

The Three Perfections: Japanese Poetry, Calligraphy, and Painting from the Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection

This exhibition delves into the intertwined arts of poetry, calligraphy, and painting, collectively known as 'the three perfections'. It showcases over 100 exquisite pieces from the Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, featuring rare artworks such as folding screens adorned with poetry, vibrant calligraphy from Zen monks, and ceramics designed for tea ceremonies.

Monstrous Beauty: A Feminist Revision of Chinoiserie

Monstrous Beauty: A Feminist Revision of Chinoiserie radically reimagines the narrative of European porcelain through a feminist perspective. The introduction of porcelain from China to early modern Europe sparked the rise of chinoiserie, a decorative style entwined with Europe’s fantasies of the East, and the exploration of ideas related to women, sexuality, and race. This exhibition investigates how this delicate medium influenced European women's identities while simultaneously reinforcing racial and cultural stereotypes regarding Asian women. By dismantling the perception of chinoiserie as a benign fantasy, Monstrous Beauty critically examines the historical style and its modern implications, reframing negative connotations through a lens of female empowerment.

Recasting the Past: The Art of Chinese Bronzes, 1100–1900

This exhibition is designed to be the most extensive examination of Chinese bronzes from 1100 to 1900, delving into their cultural and political importance throughout China's rich history. It features over 200 artistic works, including bronze vessels, paintings, ceramics, and jades, highlighted by significant loans from various institutions across China and beyond.

Embracing Color: Enamel in Chinese Decorative Arts, 1300–1900

Enamel decoration represents a vital aspect of Chinese decorative arts that has historically received little attention. This exhibition showcases the aesthetic, technical, and cultural milestones of Chinese enamel wares, highlighting the pivotal role of enamel during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. The first major transformation occurred in the late 14th to 15th century, with the introduction of cloisonné enamel from the West, alongside advancements in porcelain featuring overglaze enamels, marking a significant transition from a monochrome palette to vibrant works. The second major transformation unfolded in the late 17th to 18th century, with the Qing court embracing European enameling techniques and materials, leading to the creation of subtler and more diverse color tones on enamels applied over various mediums including porcelain, metal, and glass. In both transformations, Chinese artists did not merely replicate foreign methods but innovatively developed new colors and styles that expressed their own sensibilities. The exhibition features over 100 objects primarily sourced from The Met's collection.

Ganesha: Lord of New Beginnings

Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is a revered deity in Brahmanical (Hindu) tradition, celebrated for his ability to remove obstacles and facilitate connections with the divine. Loved by devotees for his charming qualities, including a fondness for sweet treats, Ganesha is also recognized for his dual nature; he is the lord of nature deities, occasionally embodying a more intimidating presence. This exhibition features works from the seventh to the twenty-first century, capturing the diverse representations of Ganesha throughout the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asia. With 24 pieces that include sculptures, paintings, musical instruments, ritual artifacts, and photography, it highlights Ganesha’s dynamic spirit as the harbinger of new beginnings.

Celebrating the Year of the Snake

"Celebrating the Year of the Snake" showcases an impressive array of artworks from the museum's collection that highlight the crucial role of the snake in Chinese culture. Featured pieces include a 3,000-year-old bronze ritual vessel adorned with spouts shaped like intertwined snakes' heads, a 13th-century pottery figure of a whimsically grinning snake, and an exquisitely painted 18th-century porcelain cup depicting a scene from the beloved folktale, "The Legend of the White Snake," which tells a story of love and romance between humans and mythical beings.

Colorful Korea: The Lea R. Sneider Collection

Over four decades, Lea R. Sneider (1925–2020) curated a remarkable collection of Korean art that challenged traditional conventions. While she valued literati art, her passion lay in the vibrant and colorful expressions closely linked to daily life, culminating in a diverse assemblage that showcases Korea's rich material culture. This exhibition presents significant contributions, including gifts and loans from the Lea R. Sneider Collection, graciously provided by her family. Featuring around 100 artworks spanning from the fifth century to the present—comprising paintings, ceramics, furniture, textiles, and funerary and ritual objects—the exhibition showcases the prevalence of auspicious symbolism and the genuine energy characterizing Korean art. Sneider believed these works resonate with the vitality and warmth of the people who engaged with them, a sentiment her collection epitomizes through its focus on cultural and everyday significance.

A Roman Statue of Aphrodite on Loan to The Met

A celebrated statue of the goddess of love, Aphrodite, is now on display in The Met’s Greek and Roman galleries as a five-year loan until 2028.

This exhibition showcases a distinguished Roman statue of Aphrodite, delving into the concepts of beauty and divinity as represented in ancient art. It highlights the significance of this iconic piece during its five-year display period at The Met.

A Roman Statue of Aphrodite on Loan to The Met

This remarkable statue of Aphrodite, the goddess of love, is currently showcased in The Met’s Greek and Roman galleries as part of a five-year loan that will last until 2028. Originally discovered near Rome in the 1770s, its first documented mention is in a letter from the British painter and antiquities dealer Gavin Hamilton in April 1775. Subsequent letters reveal that the statue was acquired by Douglas Hamilton, the 8th Duke of Hamilton, by December 1775 and was subsequently moved to Scotland in 1776.

The New Art: American Photography, 1839–1910

This spring, The Metropolitan Museum of Art will showcase an innovative exploration of American photography, tracing its roots from its inception in 1839 to the early 20th century. Featuring highlights from the prestigious William L. Schaeffer Collection, a significant recent gift to The Met by trustee Philip Maritz and his wife Jennifer, the exhibition includes notable works by renowned artists such as Josiah Johnson Hawes, John Moran, Carleton E. Watkins, and Alice Austen. These masterpieces will be placed alongside remarkable photographs created by lesser-known talent from various small towns and cities across the country. Through approximately 225 photographs—many of which are being displayed for the first time—the exhibition seeks to unveil the creativity, artistic aspirations, and enduring impact of early photographers, emphasizing the evolving national identity entwined with the rapid rise of photography as a cultural and artistic force.

The Roof Garden Commission: Jennie C. Jones

Ensemble

For the 2025 Roof Garden Commission, Jennie C. Jones (born 1968, Cincinnati, Ohio) will create Ensemble. This innovative outdoor sculptural installation will investigate the sonic potential and aesthetic possibilities of stringed instruments. In her distinct interpretation of modernism, these acoustic sculptures symbolize the continuity of art history through the metaphor of the string. Jones's diverse body of work—including her paintings, sculptures, and audio compositions—engages sound as a response to the legacy of minimalism. Drawing upon her deep engagement with Black improvisation and avant-garde music, she incorporates sound and listening as crucial components of her artistic practice, exemplified by the acoustic fiberglass panels used in her canvases that absorb sound. This exhibition presents an exciting exploration of minimalist abstraction, questioning the means and creators of art production.

Sargent and Paris

The exhibition "Sargent and Paris" delves into the early career of renowned American painter John Singer Sargent (1856–1925). It traces his journey from his arrival in Paris in 1874 as a talented, young art student to the mid-1880s, marked by the controversial success of his portrait "Madame X" at the Paris Salon. During this transformative decade, Sargent garnered acclaim through a series of daring and innovative portraits and figure paintings that challenged artistic norms. Surrounded by a vibrant community of artists, writers, and patrons, he skillfully navigated the French art scene, earning recognition and prestigious awards. His travels across Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and North Africa provided rich inspiration for his works. This exhibition showcases a range of Sargent's creations from this pivotal period, illustrating how his experiences in Paris shaped his artistic identity. Among the highlights is the iconic "Madame X," a celebrated piece in The Met collection, and the exhibition will provide a thorough examination of this remarkable portrait along with preparatory sketches and select portraits of Parisian women by Sargent’s contemporaries.

Superfine: Tailoring Black Style

The exhibition 'Superfine: Tailoring Black Style' presents a cultural and historical examination of Black style from the 18th century to the present, focusing on the concept of dandyism. It highlights the significance of sartorial style in shaping Black identities within the Atlantic diaspora. The exhibition chronicles how Black individuals have utilized dress and fashion to alter their identities and envision new political and social possibilities. Curated in inspiration of Monica L. Miller’s book 'Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity', it covers the evolution of the Black dandy from 18th century Enlightenment Europe to contemporary expressions in global cities, exploring themes of power and race through various media, including garments, accessories, drawings, prints, paintings, photographs, and film excerpts.

Lorna Simpson: Source Notes

This exhibition presents a comprehensive overview of New York-based artist Lorna Simpson's painting practice up to now. Gaining recognition in the 1980s through her innovative conceptual photography, Simpson has since created a diverse range of works that critically examine how images shape understanding and convey meaning. 'Lorna Simpson: Source Notes' highlights a pivotal evolution in her artistic journey over the past decade: a series of paintings that delve into themes of gender, race, identity, representation, and history. Featuring over 30 significant works, the exhibition includes notable pieces from her celebrated 2015 Venice Biennale debut and the acclaimed series 'Special Characters,' alongside more recent sculptures and collages. Often drawing imagery from historical Ebony and Jet magazines—key cultural touchstones in contemporary America—as well as archives from the Associated Press and Library of Congress, Simpson's works integrate these references into screen-printed collages infused with ink and acrylic on materials such as fiberglass, wood, and clayboard. These pieces compellingly juxtapose figuration and abstraction, showcasing figures that emerge and recede, gazing from inky surfaces or blending into melting ice landscapes. Utilizing found images—her “source notes”—the works capture a striking visual dynamism, emphasizing Simpson's adeptness at merging different artistic genres.

Iba Ndiaye: Between Latitude and Longitude

"Between Latitude and Longitude" inaugurates the in-focus gallery in the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, part of a comprehensive reimagining of The Met's collection of African art. This exhibition highlights a significant piece by Senegalese Modernist Iba Ndiaye (1928–2008), titled Tabaski, which has been gifted to The Met. Since the Rockefeller Wing's opening in 1982, a canon of African Modernist painting has developed, with Ndiaye recognized as a foundational figure of international significance; however, his legacy remains relatively obscure outside of Senegal.

The Magical City: George Morrison’s New York

This exhibition delves into how George Morrison's artistic inspiration and subsequent trajectory were deeply influenced by his affection for New York, which he referred to as a 'Magical City.' It showcases 25 of his most significant paintings and drawings from this formative period, culminating in his Horizon series. Additionally, the exhibition includes rare archival materials that position Morrison at the center of the Abstract Expressionist movement during the 1940s and 1950s in New York.

The Genesis Facade Commission: Jeffrey Gibson

For the 2025 Genesis Facade Commission, Jeffrey Gibson (born 1972, Colorado Springs, Colorado), a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and of Cherokee descent, will create four figurative sculptures, which he describes as ancestral spirit figures. This project for The Met’s Fifth Avenue facade marks the sixth commission in a series focused on this historic exterior. The artist's new works will utilize his developed iconography, which combines Indigenous identity and imagery with abstraction, patterning, materiality, and text. Gibson is an interdisciplinary artist who grew up across the United States, Germany, and Korea. His work spans hard-edged abstraction to a rich engagement in performance, filmmaking, and curatorial practices. Since the 2000s, his art, deeply rooted in Indigenous identity, has innovatively explored abstraction, text, and queer culture, blending these converging interests and highlighting a critique of the oversimplified and misappropriated representations of Indigenous culture.

Witnessing Humanity: The Art of John Wilson

For over six decades, the American artist John Wilson (1922–2015) created profound and impactful works that portrayed his experience as a Black American artist, emphasizing his enduring pursuit of racial, social, and economic justice. Beginning in his teenage years, Wilson noticed a significant lack of positive representations of Black Americans and their narratives in museums and popular media. He worked in a figurative style, aiming to fill this gap with art across various mediums that highlighted the significance and experiences of Black Americans. His subjects covered a broad spectrum, addressing themes such as racial prejudice, economic disparity, fascism, the hardships of labor, the writings of Richard Wright, and touching depictions of family, friends, and community, particularly focusing on the theme of fatherhood. Through both meticulously crafted portraits and more abstract representations of anonymous figures, Wilson captured the emotions, dignity, and inner lives of his subjects. Despite the importance and diversity of his works, Wilson’s art has not achieved the recognition it merits. This exhibition features around 100 pieces in multiple mediums, alongside archival materials that have not been publicly available before, showcasing the depth, impact, and humanity of Wilson’s artistic journey. The exhibition starts with his art from his time at an art school in Boston—where he depicted the atrocities of Nazi Germany and American racial violence, as well as affectionate glimpses of his family life. It extends through his experiences in Paris, Mexico City, and New York City, reflecting his aspiration for democratic art, and concludes with his sculptures and celebrated portrayals of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., including the maquette for the sculpture at the U.S. Capitol. The exhibition will present paintings, prints, drawings, and sculptures, along with instances of Wilson’s work as an illustrator for children’s literature. Witnessing Humanity will stand as the most extensive exhibition of Wilson's art and marks the artist's first solo museum show in New York.