The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Michael C. Rockefeller Wing, closed since 2021, reopens after a $70 million renovation. The redesign by architect Kulapat Yantrasast transforms the previously dark and cramped galleries into airy, energizing spaces, with a major rehang that reconfigures the Oceania galleries. Notable changes include the repositioning of a Kwoma ceremonial house ceiling in collaboration with descendants of the original painters, the relocation of Asmat funerary poles to a dedicated gallery, and the addition of newly acquired works by Ömie artist Ilma Savari. The renovation also features revised wall texts that better contextualize the objects.
The reopening matters because it represents a significant shift in how major museums display non-Western art. The rehang, informed by new research and community collaboration, moves beyond the typical modern and contemporary art reframings seen elsewhere, potentially serving as a model for other institutions. The article contrasts the renovated wing with artist Gala Porras-Kim's concurrent exhibition at the Carnegie Museum of Art, which critiques the Met's previous display as isolating artifacts from their originating cultures, underscoring the ongoing debate about museum practices and repatriation.