Updated
Updated · Deadline · Jul 31
Met Sets 2027 John Galliano Show as 3rd Living Designer Solo Exhibition Confronts 2011 Slurs
Updated
Updated · Deadline · Jul 31

Met Sets 2027 John Galliano Show as 3rd Living Designer Solo Exhibition Confronts 2011 Slurs

3 articles · Updated · Deadline · Jul 31

Summary

  • Spring 2027 will bring John Galliano: Horizons to the Met, pairing the Costume Institute exhibition with the Met Gala and making Galliano only the third living designer to receive a solo show there.
  • Three sections will trace Galliano’s four-decade career—from his 1984 Central Saint Martins collection through Givenchy, Dior and Maison Margiela—using garments, sketches, research books and archival material from the Met’s extensive holdings.
  • The opening gallery will directly address Galliano’s 2010-11 racist, antisemitic and anti-Asian remarks, his 2011 dismissal from Dior, his Paris conviction and treatment for substance addiction, framing the show around artistic achievement and ethical accountability.
  • May 9, 2027 to Jan. 9, 2028, the exhibition will culminate with Maison Margiela’s Spring/Summer 2024 Artisanal collection, while gala dress code, co-chairs and the host committee will be announced later.

Insights

What secret agreements were made behind closed doors to allow a disgraced designer to headline the biggest fashion event?
How will the Met balance honoring a fashion icon while navigating the explosive cultural backlash over his dark past?
Can undeniable artistic genius truly erase the stain of a hate-speech conviction in the eyes of modern high society?