Inaugurating the space will be The Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Costume Art,” an exploration of the dressed body that will juxtapose garments from the Institute’s holdings with treasures from the museum’s wider collections. “The newly designed, state-of-the-art Condé M. Nast Galleries further reflect The Met’s commitment to displaying and appreciating fashion as an art form, and also to continually investing in gallery improvement projects that will benefit our visitors for generations to come,” says Hollein. Adds Andrew Bolton, Curator in Charge of The Costume Institute: “The opening of the new galleries will mark a pivotal moment for the department, one that acknowledges the critical role that fashion plays not only within art history but also within contemporary culture.”
The milestone will be the first of two phases overseen by PRO. The firm was also tapped to reimagine the entrance at Fifth Avenue and 83rd Street—part of a complex intervention to streamline foot traffic and elevate the visitor experience. The street-level entry will give way to retail space, a restaurant, and a stairwell (all new) that leads to the Great Hall. “It’s one of the most recognized interiors in New York City, maybe the world,” PRO’s Nathan Rich told AD. The commission has been, he noted, a dream come true for him and his business partner and wife, Miriam Peterson. “When a call comes in from The Met, your heart starts racing.” Ours flutter in anticipation.
The Costume Institute’s spring 2026 exhibition, “Costume Art,” opens to the public on May 10, 2026 and will remain on view through January 10, 2027.
