Arts of Africa

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave, 10028, New York City

July 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027

The Met’s Arts of Africa galleries reopened in May 2025 in the renovated Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, presenting about 500 works that trace major artistic traditions and living practices from across sub-Saharan Africa. The installation includes art from the Middle Ages to the present, with many works shown at The Met for the first time, and places strong emphasis on authorship, identifying around 40 recognized masters from artists such as Ọlọ́wẹ̀ of Ìsẹ̀ and Abdoulaye Konaté. The galleries highlight the range and vitality of African art through wood sculpture, textiles, photography, and other media, while connecting works to the cultural landscapes where they were made, from royal courts and trade centers to forest communities. The redesign also acknowledges continued traditions in Africa and the diaspora, and the influence these works have had on modern artists worldwide. Designed by WHY Architecture and Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects LLP with The Met, the galleries are rooted in regional architectural forms and supported by new scholarship, audio guides, and a digital project with the World Monuments Fund that spotlights important cultural landmarks across sub-Saharan Africa.