The Met's Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Reopens: A Bold Reimagining of Global Art Traditions

30 May 2025

BRUCE SCHWARZ

After a four-year, $70 million renovation, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is set to unveil its reimagined Michael C. Rockefeller Wing on May 31, 2025. This extensive overhaul transforms the presentation of the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania, offering visitors a more nuanced and immersive experience of these diverse cultures.

Spanning over 40,000 square feet, the renovated wing showcases more than 1,800 works from hundreds of cultures across five continents. The redesign, led by architect Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects LLP, emphasizes natural light, open spaces, and contextual storytelling to enhance the visitor experience.

The updated galleries incorporate digital features, commissioned films, and new wall texts to provide deeper context for the artworks. Notable additions include a gallery dedicated to light-sensitive ancient Andean textiles and contemporary commissions by Indigenous Pacific artists.

The Arts of Africa galleries now present approximately 500 works organized to highlight major artistic movements and living traditions across sub-Saharan Africa. The installation features both historical pieces, such as a 12th-century fired clay figure from Mali, and contemporary works like Abdoulaye Konaté's 2014 fiber creation "Bleu no. 1." A significant portion of the displayed works are new acquisitions, many on view for the first time.

The galleries also feature a series of original films produced with Ethiopian-American filmmaker Sosena Solomon, highlighting Africa's distinctive cultural landmarks, including the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and the Kasubi Tombs in Uganda.

The reimagined galleries for the Arts of the Ancient Americas display around 700 works, emphasizing the artistic legacy of Indigenous cultures across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean prior to 1600 CE. The installation reflects contemporary scholarship and research, providing greater illumination of ancestral arts and expanding the scope to consider Indigenous traditions during the Viceregal (Colonial) period.

The Arts of Oceania galleries reintroduce The Met's collection of Oceanic art, presenting over 650 works from more than 140 distinct cultures. The new layout emphasizes ancestral connections and Indigenous temporalities, offering perspectives on art that reach deep into Oceania's past while acknowledging ongoing manifestations of its agency in the present. The installation includes monumental artworks from New Guinea and surrounding archipelagos, as well as contemporary commissions and new acquisitions by Indigenous Pacific artists.

The reopening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing marks a significant moment in museum curation, reflecting The Met's commitment to presenting global art traditions with greater depth and respect. By integrating contemporary research, Indigenous perspectives, and innovative design, the renovated wing offers a more inclusive and engaging experience for visitors.