The Metropolitan Museum of Art will reopen its Arts of Africa galleries on May 31, 2025, after a multiyear renovation that began in summer 2021. The redesigned Michael C. Rockefeller Wing features some 500 works spanning from the medieval period to the present, including a 12th-century fired clay figure from Mali and Abdoulaye Konaté's 'Bleu no. 1' (2014). A quarter of the works are recent acquisitions or gifts, displayed for the first time. The project was led by Kulapat Yantrasast of WHY Architecture with Beyer, Blinder, Belle Architects LLP and the Met's Design Department, and involved a network of international scholars and digital partnerships with the World Monuments Fund and filmmaker Sosena Solomon.
The reopening matters because it repositions African art within the Met's encyclopedic narrative, placing the galleries adjacent to Greek, Roman, and European sculpture to emphasize global artistic connections. The reinstallation reflects contemporary scholarship and diverse perspectives from experts across the United States and sub-Saharan Africa, offering visitors a deeper understanding of Africa's artistic heritage. This project underscores the Met's commitment to updating its permanent collection displays to reflect current research and inclusivity, making African art a central rather than peripheral part of the museum experience.