The Met Celebrates Reopening of Michael C. Rockefeller Wing after Major Renovation

On May 31, 2025, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City celebrated the grand reopening of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, unveiling a comprehensive renovation that reimagines the presentation of the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania. This transformation, initiated in 2021, reflects The Met's commitment to honoring and contextualizing diverse cultural narratives within its extensive collection.

The $70 million renovation, led by architect Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects LLP and The Met’s Design Department, revitalized the 40,000-square-foot gallery space. The redesign incorporates architectural elements that pay homage to the regions represented, such as a ceiling structure reminiscent of the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali. A custom-designed, sloped glass wall on the south facade now allows filtered daylight into the galleries, creating a visual connection to Central Park.

The reinstallation reflects new scholarship and includes digital features and new wall text for deeper contextualization of objects. Highlights include major new acquisitions of historic and contemporary art in the Arts of Africa galleries, a gallery dedicated to light-sensitive ancient Andean textiles—the first of its kind in the United States—and several new commissions for the Oceania galleries by Indigenous artists.

Alisa LaGamma, Curator in Charge of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, emphasized the goal of deepening appreciation for the art displayed:

"The new galleries devoted to three major collections presented in The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing allow us to reintroduce them to the public enriched with a wealth of contextual detail."

The reopening was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by The Met’s Director and CEO Max Hollein, Curator in Charge Alisa LaGamma, and other dignitaries. The event featured performances by Real De Mexico and the Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation, celebrating the rich cultural heritage represented in the wing.

Following the ceremony, The Met hosted a daylong festival with special programs, art-making activities, performances, film screenings, artist demonstrations, and food experiences, providing visitors with an immersive experience of the newly reimagined galleries.

The transformation of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing underscores The Met's commitment to presenting diverse art traditions and enhancing public engagement with these significant collections. The renovation reflects a broader trend in the museum sector to modernize infrastructure and recontextualize collections to better serve contemporary audiences.

This comprehensive renovation and reinstallation of The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing represent a significant milestone in The Met's ongoing efforts to celebrate and preserve the rich artistic heritage of Africa, the ancient Americas, and Oceania.