Tue Nov 18 03:00:00 UTC 2025: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Metropolitan Museum of Art to Explore the Intersection of Fashion and Fine Art with “Costume Art” Exhibition

NEW YORK, NY – The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute is set to open its new exhibition, “Costume Art,” on May 10, 2025, aiming to definitively establish fashion’s place within the realm of fine art. The exhibition will pair approximately 200 artworks with 200 garments and accessories, emphasizing the inherent connection between clothing and the human form.

Curated by Andrew Bolton, “Costume Art” aims to challenge the notion of an idealized body by celebrating fashion as an embodied art form, deeply connected to who we are. Retired ballerina Misty Copeland highlighted the show’s powerful message of celebrating the body in all its forms as a work of art.

The exhibition will be housed in a newly dedicated 12,000-square-foot space, named after Condé M. Nast, the founder of the publishing company behind Vogue, the Met Gala, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, and GQ. The donation enabling this new space underscores the importance of fashion within both the Met and broader culture.

The annual Met Gala, a high-profile fundraising event for the Costume Institute, will accompany the exhibition. This year’s sponsors include Saint Laurent, Condé Nast, and Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos, signaling the latter’s increasing involvement in the fashion world. Anna Wintour, retaining her role as Vogue’s global editorial director and chief content officer for Condé Nast, will continue to oversee the gala.

The Met Gala, known for its extravagant celebrity fashion and record-breaking fundraising, raised $31 million last year. These funds are crucial for the Costume Institute’s exhibitions, acquisitions, and maintenance, as it operates independently from the Met’s general budget.

“Costume Art” follows previous themes like “Sleeping Beauties” (2024) and “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” (2024), which focused on Black American style and design. The museum aims to ensure fashion is recognized for the artistry and effort comparable to Renaissance masterpieces.

About the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the world’s largest and finest art museums. Its collections span 5,000 years of world culture, from prehistory to the present, and from every part of the globe.

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