“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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Vluezz
July 21, 2023 at 3:31 pm
Tropic Thunder is one of his best movies
barbj672000
July 21, 2023 at 3:32 pm
I am glad that he is in a place that he can talk about his career/past so openly. I do hope it was cathartic for him.
PAT ????
July 21, 2023 at 3:32 pm
Why Sherlock wasn’t talked about?
thesummit615
July 21, 2023 at 3:35 pm
You’d never know Cillian was the star of the film with all these RDJ pressers.
LA Dorkknight
July 21, 2023 at 3:36 pm
He is unbelievable in Oppenheimer
-I am-
July 21, 2023 at 3:36 pm
Dude I just saw the film and it’s a spectacular piece of art but I just wanna tell you I just cannot see you as an antagonist . You are never doing it again you are my hero don’t ruin it please
Justin Garrett
July 21, 2023 at 3:36 pm
They didn’t want to talk about Tropic Thunder huh?????
hadiya aa
July 21, 2023 at 3:37 pm
BuT pUppET we’rE mAkiNG a fILm iTs NOt a DOcumENTAry
Joshua Alexander Lynch
July 21, 2023 at 3:38 pm
I’m glad we live in a timeline where RDJ survived and thrived.
Zeke Brewer
July 21, 2023 at 3:38 pm
Soapdish got skipped which is fine but I just wanna say it’s hella underrated, great movie.
strahljd
July 21, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Absolutely awesome segment. I do have to be that “why didn’t they talk about x” guy though, wish he would’ve talked about the Sherlock movies…I’m fascinated by his performance and affectation of the English accent, I would love to hear his insight into how he went about it, the method of the role, etc
Badnaam Jutt
July 21, 2023 at 3:39 pm
Why not Tropic thunder? He was nominated for an Oscar for that role
kaytagi
July 21, 2023 at 3:40 pm
Where is Kirk Lazarus?! I’m really disappointed that he didn’t talk about it.
Ana Trankle
July 21, 2023 at 3:41 pm
I Totally Love Robert Downey Jr., what a great actor!
Prince RJ
July 21, 2023 at 3:42 pm
7:18 Did he really say hitherto?
DAGMAWI Asmamaw
July 21, 2023 at 3:43 pm
I watched oppenheimer it’s great movie
kirk vanek
July 21, 2023 at 3:46 pm
excuse me,, where is the shout out to derrick lutz in back to school?
Nun Adolescent
July 21, 2023 at 3:46 pm
Where is Tropic Thunder
RockWei
July 21, 2023 at 3:47 pm
Kinda surprise they didn’t talk about The Avengers saga especially Infinity wars and endgame.
daggaboom
July 21, 2023 at 3:50 pm
No mention of natural born killers or Tropic Thunder, which he was outstanding in too. What a career he’s had
kris hall
July 21, 2023 at 3:50 pm
Excellent interview, he just seems very sincere, like he’s shaken off Stark at last.
Shane Chaisson
July 21, 2023 at 3:51 pm
The Judge is his best movie hands down. It’s my favorite movie of all time
Alexander Fitchett
July 21, 2023 at 3:51 pm
❤
Daniel Mann
July 21, 2023 at 3:51 pm
that was a fantastic attenborough impression
unoverse
July 21, 2023 at 3:51 pm
why’d they skip weird science