Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York Learn more about what's on at The Met and the artists shaping its programme.The Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met) is one of the world’s most well-loved landmark museums located on Fifth Avenue along Central Park’s Museum Mile in Manhattan, New York. Renowned for its monumental Beaux-Arts architecture and encyclopedic collection, it also presents an exceptional showing of contemporary art.
Home to more than 2 million works of art spanning over 5,000 years of art from across the globe, The Met is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in art, design, and history. Founded in 1870 by a group of leading Americans including artists and philanthropists, the museum has become the most-visited in the United States, celebrated not only for its treasures—ranging from the Temple of Dendur to masterpieces by Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Monet—but also for diverse contemporary art exhibitions and its iconic Grand Stairway, and the infamous Met Gala.
Since launching the Met’s Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, the museum has showcased significant international artists who challenge and expand the boundaries of art today, presenting ambitious exhibitions that span painting, sculpture, new media, and performance. Recent highlights include major retrospectives for artists like Cecily Brown, Alice Neel, and Gerhard Richter, as well as group exhibitions exploring urgent global themes. Through its Met Breuer program (2016–2020) and now within its Fifth Avenue flagship, The Met has solidified itself as a leading venue for thought-provoking contemporary practice in New York City.
The museum’s acclaimed Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden Commission invites a renowned contemporary artist each year to create a site-specific installation atop The Met’s iconic rooftop. With panoramic views of Manhattan as a dramatic backdrop, these commissions have featured artists including Cornelia Parker, Dan Graham, Huma Bhabha, and Lauren Halsey, offering visitors unique encounters with cutting-edge art in one of New York’s most extraordinary settings.
Follow The Met on Ocula for exhibition highlights, important news and expert recommendations on the best New York exhibitions to see.
Metropolitan Museum of Art FAQs
What is the history of the Metropolitan Museum of Art?
Founded in 1870 by a coalition of American citizens, the museum’s mission was to bring art and education to the public. The Met moved to its present Fifth Avenue location in 1880 and now occupies over 2 million square feet in a complex that has evolved over decades of architectural expansion.
Where is The Metropolitan Museum of Art located?
The Met’s main site is at 1000 Fifth Avenue, on the eastern edge of Central Park between 80th and 84th Streets in New York City’s Upper East Side. Its second campus, The Met Cloisters, is in Fort Tryon Park, northern Manhattan, offering a unique experience of medieval Europe.
What art can I see at The Met?
The Met’s collection spans Ancient Egyptian artifacts, European Old Masters, American decorative arts, Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, extensive arms and armor, Islamic and Asian art, and much more. Notable past exhibitions have included Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” (2018), The American Wing reinstallation, and retrospectives of artists like Michelangelo and Alice Neel.
How do I find out what’s on at The Met?
Current and upcoming exhibitions are well-documented on The Met’s official website, and followers can receive updates on Ocula for recommended shows and collection highlights.
Who are some of the artists who have shown at The Met?
Notable artists in The Met’s collections include Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, Rembrandt, Faith Ringgold, and Emanuel Leutze, as well as many artists featured in special exhibitions and contemporary programmes. You can explore Ocula’s artist selections and profiles to find out more about the artists who have shown at The Met.
What contemporary art galleries are nearby The Met?
The Met is near iconic Upper East Side institutions such as the Guggenheim Museum, Neue Galerie, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. Consult Ocula’s New York City guide for more art venues and exhibition itineraries.
Can I buy artworks by artists who are showing or have shown at The Met?
As a museum, The Met does not sell artworks; however, many artists featured in exhibitions are represented by leading galleries in New York and internationally. Ocula can help visitors discover where to view or enquire about works by these artists.
Is The Met building accessible?
The Met is committed to accessibility, offering ramps, elevators, and resources for visitors with disabilities. Check The Met’s website for the latest accessibility and visitor information.
Artworks by Met Artists
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