Met Gala-Exhibit-Mannequins

An ensemble by designer Karoline Vitto, on a mannequin model of Charlie Reynolds, center, is displayed in a room at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during preparations for the Met Gala exhibit "Costume Art" on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, in New York.

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Most fashion mannequins are about a size 2. The Met Gala exhibit is making room for diverse bodies

Most fashion mannequins are about a size 2. The Met Gala exhibit is making room for diverse bodies

The upcoming fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art examines “the dressed body” in art over the centuries. But “Costume Art” also aims to include bodies that art has traditionally ignored. The museum has created 25 mannequins for display based on “real bodies.” Nine people modeled for the mannequins. Those include disability activist Sinéad Burke and body-positive lingerie designer Michaela Stark. Curator Andrew Bolton explains he's seeking to challenge centuries-old conceptions of beauty. The exhibit is launching with the May 4 Met Gala and opens to the public May 10. It runs until January 2027.