The Met’s New ‘Costume Art’ Mannequins Put Real Bodies First

by

The 2026 Met Gala is emphasizing the human form. This year’s theme, “Fashion is Art,” is reflected in the Costume Institute’s new exhibition, which explores the connection between fashion and fine art through the act of getting dressed. Curator Andrew Bolton wanted to highlight real bodies and how we adorn them, putting the focus back on the people who wear the clothes.

The spring fashion show will feature a refreshing change: models with diverse body types, including pregnant individuals, people with disabilities, transgender individuals, and those with larger builds. These representations are a departure from typical fashion displays. This choice reflects the curator’s goal to broaden the museum’s collection beyond traditional European couture, showcasing a wider range of designers and the diverse forms—bodies—they design for.

Mannequins appear in twelve sections of two different exhibitions, with each section focusing on a particular way of understanding the body. For example, the “Disabled Body” section includes figures like Sinéad Burke from Tilting the Lens, model Aariana Rose Philip, athlete Aimee Mullins, Antwan Tolliver of Freedom Is Fly, model and swimwear designer Sonia Vera, and the late drag artist Goddess Bunny.

A section called “Corpulent Body” celebrates bold shapes and sizes, featuring figures inspired by musician Yseult, models Jade O’Belle and Charlie Reynolds, and artist/designer Michaela Stark, whose work beautifully blurs the boundaries between fashion and art.



To create realistic forms for the garments, each model was 3D-scanned and then sculpted into a physical figure by Frank Benson. Artist Samar Hejazi then added heads featuring mirrors instead of faces, encouraging viewers to see themselves reflected in the artwork and become part of the experience.

In an essay for the exhibition catalog, Hejazi shared that her designs, even from the beginning of her work with Bolton, were shaped by a few key questions: How could they challenge beauty standards and make all bodies feel accepted? How could mannequins help viewers imagine themselves wearing the clothes and connect with the body displaying them? And how could the mannequins themselves foster understanding and connection, rather than create a sense of separation?

Last year, Tanda Francis’ uniquely designed mannequin heads for the Superfine exhibition were praised for their artistic quality, highlighting the close connection between fashion and art.

I’m so excited to hear the 2026 mannequins aren’t just for this year! Apparently, these nine designs are now part of the Met’s permanent collection, which means we’ll probably see them in future exhibitions – and they’re planning to add even more each year! Andrew Bolton explained they’re really trying to represent all kinds of bodies and forms, both within and beyond what we usually see at the Met.

Read More

2026-05-05 00:26