The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York is set to reopen its Arts of Africa galleries on May 31, 2025, following a four-year, $70 million renovation of the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. The reopening aims to explore the diversity of African art and engage with contemporary issues surrounding cultural representation and repatriation.
The renovated wing will showcase over 500 pieces representing more than 170 different cultures, with a third of the exhibited artworks being new acquisitions. Highlights include a 13th-century clay figure from Djenné-Djeno and a monumental Dogon sculpture.
A significant addition is Samuel Fosso's "African Spirits" series, alongside a donation of thousands of photographs from the Artur Walther collection. The exhibition will also feature films by Sosena Solomon, highlighting cultural sites across Africa and the challenges of their preservation, such as the Tsodilo rock paintings in Botswana and the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia.
The reopening emphasizes the historical depth and diversity of African art while addressing ongoing discussions about the provenance of museum collections. The revitalized Arts of Africa galleries invite visitors to explore Africa's rich artistic legacy, offering a space where historical and contemporary works converge.