The Met’s Art & Artists Gala Ushered in a New Chapter—in Suitably Glamorous Fashion

As flamboyant feathers, elegant beadwork, and delicate floral gowns swept the halls of The Metropolitan Museum, the scene at Wednesday evening’s Art & Artists Gala teetered on the surreal. The annual—and stylish—affair has been hosted for the last quarter-century to celebrate new acquisitions and additions to the storied museum’s cultural and artistic tapestry. Presented once more by Tiffany & Co., this year’s elegant event also broke records as it garnered over $5 million towards continued growth and expansion.

Stepping out of the drizzle and into the Great Hall, guests were instantly transported by the sense of old world glamour. As they sipped on Champagne and festive cocktails with bourbon, cinnamon, and port, they were greeted by abundant grazing tables and florals that seemed to have been plucked from a Severin Roesen painting.

The warm candlelight and draped jewel-toned damask fabrics—courtesy of seminal event designer Bronson Van Wyck—proved a picture-perfect backdrop. The evening’s co-chairs Ann Tenenbaum, Samantha Boardman Rosen, Dasha Zhukova Niarchos, Aerin Lauder, Amy Griffin, and Jordan Casteel could be seen greeting friends, welcoming a crowd that included Annie Leibovitz, Jon Batiste, Jeff and Justine Koons, Lauren Santo Domingo, Brett Heyman, Tory Burch, Georgina Chapman, Vanessa Getty, Thelma Golden, Jeffrey Gibson, Kent Monkman, and Amy Sillman.

Amy Griffin was keen to take home the fashion gold for the evening, opting for a show-stopping gilded gown by Daniel Roseberry for Schiaparelli which featured a bodice of intricate pieces of mirrored glass. Keeping in step, artist Sarah Sze also donned fragmented mirror earrings—and contextualized their pattern of crushed reflective glass in relation to the event: “They represent the fragmentation of society and societal norms, breaking it down and creating new things, and then bringing them together in a new space,” she said. Drawing inspiration from Tiffany’s stained glass patterns, Monse’s Laura Kim wore a mesmerizing mirrored cocktail frock too. The designer’s dress both showcased the intricate embroidery work of her trusted artisans, while paying homage to the evening’s theme of showcasing unique creative voices.

And as if subtly stirred from a dream, the sound of a dinner gong ushered the night along. Attendees floated through the winding halls of Ancient Egypt, passing stone sarcophaguses and statues of ancient deities until they were ultimately met with a breathtaking display: on view for one night only. With walls dressed in projections of peacock feathers, the famed Temple of Dendur was bathed in shades of iridescent blues and greens, soft pinks and bronze. A vision made all the more memorable by tablescapes with delicate florals and gold-lipped Tiffany crystalware. Following dinner, guests were received back in the Great Hall alongside sweets, a hot chocolate bar, and the real treat: a piano performance by Brandon Goldberg.

The anticipation surrounding Mexican architect Frida Escobedo’s design for the museum’s forthcoming Tang Wing, which will house an expansive collectsion of contemporary art, was the talk on everyone’s lips too. Both Escobedo and Met Museum director Max Hollein expressed their joy for the platform that this history-making wing—the first designed by a woman—will inevitably offer to new voices in the art sphere going forward. Construction begins in the new year.