“Fashion is very much an art form not in spite of the body, but because of it,” says Andrew Bolton, OBE, curator in charge of the Costume Institute. And this year’s exhibition, “Costume Art,” seeks not just to address this tantalizingly complex issue, but to explore it in all its many facets. The central thesis is as simple as it is thrilling: pair existing artworks with corresponding garments or accessories and let your synapses fire. The very layout of the show—broken into sections that move from Biblical nudity to the au courant idea of body diversity to the ways in which we’ve long used clothes not merely to adorn but to subvert and distort the body—indicates just how richly drawn this subject is and why it’s mesmerized artists since time immemorial.
Sinéad Burke, CEO of Tilting the Lens, emphasizes how this exhibit highlights bodies that have traditionally been overlooked, and as someone with a physical disability, she is among those featured. Her body has been memorialized in the exhibition as a custom mannequin, alongside model and musician Aariana Rose Philip, transforming their presence into a lasting part of the narrative around representation, fashion, and identity.
Additionally, this exhibition will be the first in the costume department’s new home, the Conde M. Nast Galleries. Once relegated to a modest 4,500-square-foot space in the museum’s basement, the department will now take flight in a grand, 12,000-square-foot display room on the ground floor, just off the central Great Hall. It is, says Max Hollein, the museum’s director, a symbol of how important clothing has become to The Met’s mission in exploring the many facets of art in the modern age. “We collect paintings, sculptures, textiles, arms and armor, but especially all the fashion,” he says. “And we want to make sure that it’s understood that fashion is a fantastic form of art.”
Featuring testimonials from Misty Copeland, Alex Consani, Gwendoline Christie, Aimee Mullins, Sinéad Burke, Aariana Rose Philip and more.
Director: Nina Ljeti
Directors of Photography: Michael Lopez, Henry Gill
Editor: Evan Allan
Senior Producer: Bety Dereje
Producer: Rashida Josiah
Associate Producers: Anisa Kennar, Justine Ramirez, Lea Donenberg
Camera Operator: Chanthila Phaophanit
Assistant Camera: Kahdeem Prosper Jefferson, Gordan Wong
Gaffers: Billy Voermann, Mary Kalecinska
Swing: Alex Frischman
Audio: Mariya Chulichkova, Joanna Hunt
Set Designers: Ilana Portney, Dana Keren
Production Assistants: Quinton Johnson, Myles Haywood
Runners: Edie Chesters, Rachel Ademidun
Groomer for Andrew Bolton: Shin Arima
Makeup Artist for Sinéad Burke and Alex Consani: Ai Yokomizo
Hairstylist for Sinéad Burke and Alex Consani: Sonny Molina
Makeup Artist for Misty Copeland: Victor Henao
Hairstylist for Misty Copeland: Nai’vasha Grace
Makeup Artist for Aariana Philip: Meadow Soleil Cloud
Makeup Artist for Gwendoline Christie: Daniel Kolaric
Hairstylist for Gwendoline Christie: Joe Kelly
Hair & Makeup Artist for Aimee Mullins: Stèfan Jemeel
Production Coordinator: Tanía Jones
Production Manager: Kristen Helmick
Senior Production Manager: Venita Singh-Warner
Line Producer: Natasha Soto-Albors
Assistant Editors: Andy Morell, Fynn Lithgow
Senior Motion Graphics Designer: Samuel Fuller
Post Production Coordinator: Holly Frew
Supervising Editor: Kameron Key
Post Production Supervisor: Alexa Deutsch
Entertainment Director: Sergio Kletnoy
Global Talent Casting Directors: Ignacio Murillo, Morgan Senesi
Executive Producer: Rahel Gebreyes
Senior Director, Digital Video: Romy van den Broeke
Senior Director, Programming: Linda Gittleson
VP, Video Programming: Thespena Guatieri
Florist: London Blooming Haus
Photography By Paul Westlake
Images Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Special Thanks: The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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LeBeautiful
December 29, 2022 at 5:01 pm
The classiest women, on the hottest seat.
The life of Gavin ! ! !!
December 29, 2022 at 5:01 pm
First
Chuuzus
December 29, 2022 at 5:01 pm
Janelle Monae really deserves all the awards for her amazing acting in Glass Onion. she’s one of the few singers who transitioned to acting and is doing it so well
Jean Lemay
December 29, 2022 at 5:59 pm
She was always an actress imo. Peace out!
John Harrison
December 29, 2022 at 6:16 pm
@Jean Lemay She was a singer and still is. God awful actress, completely ruined the film.
More Sims
December 29, 2022 at 6:33 pm
@John Harrison Who hurt you John?
Nancy
December 29, 2022 at 6:34 pm
@John HarrisonLOL you’re delusional
rockofAGES
December 29, 2022 at 7:49 pm
@John Harrison she WAS the film quite literally, what are you on about?
sophia isabelle
December 29, 2022 at 5:04 pm
They are just remarkable women. Happy Holidays everyone.
John Harrison
December 29, 2022 at 5:09 pm
Janelle is one of the worst actors Ive seen this year. Her terrible performance in Knives out 2 completely killed the film for me
John Harrison
December 29, 2022 at 6:51 pm
@Josiah Cook And you should consider watching more films. Because she objectively delivered a terrible performance.
mydogeatspuke
December 29, 2022 at 7:13 pm
@Mimi1117 her overstretched skin is probably pretty weak after that face lift
Bunny Hana
December 29, 2022 at 7:15 pm
@John Harrison hey did you know people can have different opinions? Just because you didn’t find her performance good, that doesn’t mean people can’t like it
moneyball32
December 29, 2022 at 7:16 pm
@John Harrison she *subjectively delivered a terrible performance to you. Subjectively she was great to a lot more—you’re in the minority. Maybe it’s you that needs to watch more films.
Clare Smith
December 29, 2022 at 7:23 pm
me when i lie
KirstenDunstFan
December 29, 2022 at 5:22 pm
Literally the two best characters…Kate and Janelle carried the movie
Ashley Bernstein
December 29, 2022 at 5:22 pm
I’m sorry.. Kate GARY Hudson?? Lol
Prodigity
December 29, 2022 at 5:24 pm
“Are you a nepo baby?”
hugo lewis
December 29, 2022 at 5:31 pm
Also Kate lying perfectly and getting away with it just shows how dumb these fake lie detectors are
Wayward Mind
December 29, 2022 at 5:43 pm
It’s just entertainment. There’s a reason polygraph tests aren’t used during trials.
Isaiah Ruiz
December 29, 2022 at 5:33 pm
can y’all do kendall and Kylie next
sebastian
December 29, 2022 at 7:08 pm
replying to this to voice my distaste for this idea.
clever username
December 29, 2022 at 7:22 pm
@sebastian replying to this to voice my seconding of your distaste for this idea
fish
December 29, 2022 at 5:34 pm
Janelle Monáe is one of the greatest performers of multifaceted and combination of art and humanism. We don’t need systems to recognize this. Her passion and skill and love she conveys through every project is beyond any words I can come up with.
S. Priana Aquino
December 29, 2022 at 5:41 pm
enid and wednesday really out here
L.N
December 29, 2022 at 5:47 pm
Best movie of the year
David J Peinado
December 29, 2022 at 6:05 pm
AAAAAA
Timothy Burke
December 29, 2022 at 6:08 pm
Janelle Monae is not only one of the most beautiful human beings on earth, I also assume she has an IQ off the charts.
mudjin opanak
December 29, 2022 at 6:19 pm
Give Janelle Monae her flowers people
Geoff Stark
December 29, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Kate Hudson has appeared in more romcoms than she’s watched. What a legend
Bordeom
December 29, 2022 at 6:30 pm
Janellleee!! I been waiting for her to do one of these
Kay Kay
December 29, 2022 at 6:34 pm
Janelle Monae is really beautiful.
Tylar Wiley
December 29, 2022 at 6:36 pm
oh this just made my day, thank you queens!
Zarrys Lux
December 29, 2022 at 6:43 pm
why isn’t this an hour long!!
Odd Mad
December 29, 2022 at 7:00 pm
This was excellent.
clever username
December 29, 2022 at 7:19 pm
Both of these women are far more talented and beautiful than they have any right to be.
Caitlyn Winders
December 29, 2022 at 7:19 pm
i love this duo
Shoop
December 29, 2022 at 7:53 pm
It’s official- Dane Cook double cancelled and a bad kisser ????