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The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art will officially reopen to the public on May 31, showcasing the beloved collections of African, Ancient American and Oceanic art across three distinct, completely revamped galleries that have been closed for extensive renovations since 2021.
Visitors will soon have the chance to explore 1,800 works from across five continents and numerous cultures, enhanced by new digital features and updated wall text that offer a deeper understanding of each display.
"The complete renovation of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing reflects The Met's deep commitment to—and expertise in—preserving and expanding our knowledge of the Museum's collection," said Max Hollein, The Met's Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer, in an official statement. "In addition to our collaborative and community-focused approach to curating these collections, the transformation of these galleries will help advance the appreciation and contextualization of some of the world's most significant cultures."
The redesigned wing will also feature a new layout, with natural light filtering through a custom sloped glass wall on the south facade, facing Central Park.
According to an official press release, "Each collection will present objects that have never been shown before, including major new acquisitions of historic and contemporary works in the Arts of Africa galleries; a gallery dedicated to ancient Andean textiles, which will be the first of its kind in the U.S.; and new commissions for the Oceania galleries by Indigenous artists, along with a range of digital features presenting contemporary perspectives."
The wing first opened its doors in 1982, offering a broader view of global art history—a vision that has now been expanded to tell even more complex stories.
The renovated Arts of Africa Galleries will be home to original creations from the Middle Ages to the present. One-third of the works will be new acquisitions on display at The Met for the very first time.
In the Arts of the Ancient Americas, folks will gaze at 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," according to the release.
As for the Arts of Oceania Galleries, they will feature over 650 pieces organized around a new diagonal trajectory layout.
The newly renovated spaces only add to an already packed spring calendar of art exhibitions that we're most excited to see next season. Is it spring yet?