Global Community Gathers to Celebrate Reopening of Met’s Rockefeller Wing

Elegantly dressed guests gathered around white-clothed round tables encircling the Temple of Dendur. Attendees showcased diverse cultural attire, including fascinators, Nigerian geles, Hawaiian lei po’o, Yoruba agbadas, and Hawaiian kāpēi, blending traditional and formal styles to honor the heritage celebrated at the event.

On Friday evening, curators, artists, and archaeologists convened at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to mark the reopening of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. This event celebrated both the culmination of four years of restoration and the enduring legacy of an influential American family.

Among the guests enjoying lobster, foie gras, wine, and champagne were long-time supporters of the museum and members of the Rockefeller family. They mingled amid the wing’s 1,726 objects, which represent the rich artistic traditions of Africa, the ancient Americas, and Oceania within a newly expanded 40,000-square-foot gallery that cost $70 million to complete.

Max Hollein, the Met’s chief executive and director, described the reopening as a “coming together of a truly global community.” He emphasized the importance of honoring cultural heritage through deeper understanding and appreciation in today’s world.