The Met
Founded in 1870, The Metropolitan Museum of Art was created to have a museum and library of art so people can not only study and admire the artwork but also see how art can and does function in everyday life. Today there are three iconic Met lives in three different locations, The Met 5th Ave. (the original), The Met Breuer, and The Met Cloisters. Each of which highlights the best and most iconic pieces from 5,000 years ago until today. Their mission is to show the crossing of cultures, ideas, and creativity through different cultures, nations, and eras.
Plan Your Visit to The Met
The Met’s admission is donation based, and they have their suggested donations on the site. You can purchase your tickets online, and even set up a group visit, which is perfect for families, classes, or groups of co-workers. Another great offer that The Met has is their own audio guide, which guests can rent to hear a curator talk through each piece in great detail so they have a perfect idea of what masterpiece they are viewing. QR codes are posted around the museum for visitors to scan and listen to as well, so bring your headphones! Be sure to check out which exhibits and collections are up before you go. The Met is also part of New York City’s famous and beautiful Museum Mile, which highlights some of the best museums that New York has to offer.
Current Exhibits
Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
Through July 26. The Costume Institute’s spring 2023 exhibition will examine the work of Karl Lagerfeld (1933–2019). Focusing on the designer’s stylistic vocabulary as expressed in aesthetic themes that appear time and again in his fashions from the 1950s to his final collection in 2019, the show will spotlight the German-born designer’s unique working methodology.
Juan de Pareja, Afro-Hispanic Painter
Until July 16. This exhibition offers an unprecedented look at the life and artistic achievements of seventeenth-century Afro-Hispanic painter Juan de Pareja (ca. 1608–1670). Largely known today as the subject of The Met’s iconic portrait by Diego Velázquez, Pareja—who was born in Antequera, Spain—was enslaved in Velázquez’s studio for over two decades before becoming an artist in his own right.
The Met 360° Project
In order to allow viewers to explore some The Met’s most iconic spaces, the museum created a series of six short videos. The series was created with spherical 360° technology to showcase the museum’s art and architecture like never before. To watch this award-winning series, visit The Met’s official website today.
“If I had to choose a single destination where I’d be held captive for the rest of my time in New York, I’d choose the Metropolitan Museum of Art.”
—Tim Gunn, Project Runway
Getting to the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Experience The Met via Amtrak to the Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station in New York City—Don’t forget to use the New York By Rail 15% discount!
