The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is set to reopen its Michael C. Rockefeller Wing on May 31, 2025, following a comprehensive multiyear renovation. This 40,000-square-foot wing, closed since 2021, houses the Museum's collections of the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania. The reimagined galleries will feature over 1,800 works spanning five continents and hundreds of cultures, with designs by Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture. The renovation aims to transform the visitor experience by incorporating innovative technologies and design elements that pay homage to the architectural vernaculars of each region. The reinstallation reflects new scholarship, undertaken in collaboration with international experts, and includes digital features and new wall texts for deeper contextualization. Highlights include major new acquisitions, a gallery dedicated to ancient Andean textiles, and new commissions for the Oceania galleries by Indigenous artists.

The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, named in honor of Michael Clark Rockefeller, was originally opened in 1982. It was designed to house The Met's collections from sub-Saharan Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania. Over the years, the wing has served as a vital space for showcasing art from these regions, reflecting the Museum's commitment to presenting a comprehensive global art history.

The renovation, initiated in January 2021, was developed over four years in collaboration with wHY Architects. The project encompasses a complete conceptual and physical overhaul of the wing, including replacing the glass wall abutting Central Park to allow greater illumination and increasing the space allotted to the presentation of art. The redefinition of the galleries underscores distinct architectural vernaculars relevant to the three collection areas, aiming to elucidate artworks' aesthetic qualities, tether them to historical and cultural movements, highlight individual authors and the provenance of specific artifacts, and provide greater clarity and accessibility to visitors.

Reimagined Galleries

• Arts of Africa: The reenvisioned installation will reintroduce visitors to The Met’s collection of sub-Saharan African art through a selection of some 500 works organized to survey major artistic movements and living traditions from across the subcontinent. The new galleries will present original creations spanning from the Middle Ages to the present, including artworks such as a 12th-century fired clay figure shaped in Mali’s Inner Niger Delta to the fiber creation Bleu no. 1 (2014) by Abdoulaye Konaté. One-third of the works, which are new acquisitions given by donors to celebrate The Met’s capital project, will be on display at The Met for the first time.

• Arts of the Ancient Americas: The reinstallation is organized around nearly 700 works selected to foreground the artistic legacy of Indigenous artists from across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean prior to 1600 CE. The new galleries will include monumental stone sculptures and exquisite metalwork, illuminated by filtered daylight from Central Park through a custom-designed, state-of-the-art sloped glass wall on the south facade. A highlight is a new gallery dedicated to ancient Andean textiles—the first of its kind in the United States—featuring intricately woven garments and hangings, some older than 2,000 years.

• Arts of Oceania: The reimagined galleries will feature over 650 stellar works from the Museum’s remarkable collection of Oceanic art, drawn from over 140 distinct cultures in a region covering almost one-third of the earth’s surface. The new galleries take a fresh look at the visual arts of Oceania, exploring the long-standing relationships between Austronesian-speaking peoples who are deeply connected by the ocean. New acquisitions include a set of a dozen vibrant painted barkcloths from the Omïe women’s collective in Oro Province, Papua New Guinea, and significant bark paintings, including the last ever made by senior Yolngu artist Nongirrnga Marawilli from Arnhem Land in the Northern Territories.

Social and Societal Implications

The reopening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing holds significant social and societal implications:

• Cultural Representation: By dedicating substantial space and resources to the arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania, The Met acknowledges and elevates the importance of these cultures within the global art narrative.

• Educational Impact: The incorporation of new scholarship, digital features, and contextual wall texts enhances the educational experience for visitors, providing deeper insights into the histories and cultures represented.

• Community Engagement: Collaborations with international experts and Indigenous artists foster a sense of inclusivity and respect for the originating communities, promoting cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.

Statements from Officials

Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer, stated:

"The complete renovation of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing reflects The Met’s profound commitment to—and deep expertise in—caring for and expanding understandings of the works in the Museum’s collection. Together with our collaborative and community-based approach to curating these collections, the transformation of these galleries allows us to further advance the appreciation and contextualization of many of the world’s most significant cultures."

Kulapat Yantrasast, Founder and Creative Director of WHY Architecture, commented:

"The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing affirms WHY’s belief that museums are true sites of empathy."

Historical Context

The Met has a history of renovating and reimagining its galleries to enhance the visitor experience and reflect contemporary scholarship. For instance, in 2023, the Museum triumphantly reopened its European painting galleries after a significant renovation, involving 45 galleries with 700 paintings spanning five centuries. The upgrade included replacing the galleries' skylights, enhancing illumination, and updating the display to maximize the artworks' impact.

The reopening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing is a testament to The Met's ongoing commitment to presenting a comprehensive and inclusive global art history. Visitors can anticipate a transformative experience that honors the rich cultural legacies of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania.