The Metropolitan Museum of Art and designer John Galliano announced Monday that a planned exhibition of his work, scheduled to coincide with the 2027 Met Gala, has been canceled. The decision followed weeks of criticism regarding Galliano’s history of antisemitic and racist remarks. Galliano stated in a social media post that after discussions with those involved, he decided it was best for the exhibition not to proceed at this time.
The exhibition was intended to showcase Galliano’s four-decade career, during which he served as creative director for Christian Dior and Maison Margiela. However, the proposal faced opposition earlier this month due to incidents in 2010 and 2011. Those remarks resulted in Galliano's dismissal from Christian Dior in 2011 and a hate crime conviction in France. Galliano issued a statement Monday reiterating his accountability and apologizing for the pain caused to the Jewish and Asian communities.
The New York Times reported that opposition to the exhibit included donors who threatened to withdraw gifts from the museum. Julie Menin, the New York City Council Speaker and a prominent Jewish official, stated she strongly disagreed with the museum’s initial decision to feature Galliano, citing a rise in antisemitism. Andrew Bolton, the curator in charge of The Met’s Costume Institute, acknowledged the concern caused by the proposal while stating he believes museums have a responsibility to examine difficult histories.
For the public and museum visitors, the change means the 2027 spring exhibition will feature different content than originally advertised. Instead of viewing a retrospective of Galliano’s work, which fashion contributor Lauren Sherman described as integral to the industry's transformation in the 1990s, attendees will see an as-yet-unannounced exhibit. This sets a precedent for how major cultural institutions in New York City respond to public and political pressure regarding the personal histories of the artists they choose to feature.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has not yet set a date for when it will announce the new theme for the 2027 Met Gala or the replacement Costume Institute exhibition. The museum confirmed that the originally planned "Spring 2027" exhibition will not proceed. Galliano remains in his career following his 2014 appointment at Maison Margiela and his participation in a 2024 documentary about his career history. Further details regarding the 2027 gala schedule are expected at a later date.