The Metropolitan Museum of Art's upcoming Costume Institute exhibition, 'Costume Art,' will feature mannequins representing a diverse range of body types, including pregnant, disabled, and plus-size figures, instead of the traditional sample size 2. The mannequins were created using photogrammetry scans of real people, such as artist Michaela Stark and disability activist Sinéad Burke, and have reflective steel faces intended to allow visitors to see themselves in the display.
The exhibition, opening May 10 and supported by the Met Gala, represents a significant institutional challenge to the historical standardization of thin, able-bodied forms in museum displays. Curator Andrew Bolton frames it as an effort to add new voices and presences to the conversation about fashion and art, signaling a push for broader representation even as some fashion industry trends appear to be pulling back from inclusivity.