The theme of the 2026 Met Gala, the famous event curated by Anna Wintour at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, NY, was Fashion is Art.
This year’s proposal was to explore fashion as an art form, the relationship between body, clothing, and artistic expression. Sculptural, conceptual, and historical pieces.
And despite the controversy of having an event of this magnitude sponsored by billionaire Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, and clearly someone outside the fashion universe, some guests did not disappoint on the Red Carpet.
I chose some favorites to illustrate this article. Beauty is subjective, as is each individual’s perception of a work of art. What may be considered strange to some may be sublime to others. But, unanimously, I believe that the relationship these pieces presented with their references is definitely a point to be appreciated.
Art connoisseurs or not, fashion lovers or not, it’s impossible not to be dazzled by the connection that exists between these two universes.
Madonna
Madonna, by far, was the name that impressed me the most. That she knows how to create memorable looks is nothing new since the 80s, but to be able to translate a work in such a masterful way, I would say, was, at the very least, remarkable.
Note the hat, a work by the famous milliner Philip Treacy from 1997, which harmonized perfectly with the look created by Anthony Vaccarello of Saint Laurent. His piece was inspired by the work THE TEMPTATION OF SAINT ANTHONY. FRAGMENT II, by Leonora Carrington. Stunning.
Emma Chamberlain
Next, I need to talk about Emma Chamberlain, with a dress created by Mugler, which was literally hand-painted in a work of about 40 hours. The dress created the impression of paint dripping down the sleeves. Simply sensational.
It was inspired by the work THE GARDEN IN ARLES, by Van Gogh.
Kendall Jenner
The effect of Kendall Jenner’s dress could easily have gone unnoticed on the Met Gala red carpet if it weren’t for the movement of lifting the train on both sides simultaneously, revealing the wings made of ultra-thin fabric with a wet-look drape effect.
The piece was designed by Zac Posen and inspired by the aesthetics of classical Greek sculptures, especially the Winged Victory of Samothrace, a 2nd-century BC statue currently housed in the Louvre Museum.
Beyoncé
Beyoncé, one of the hosts of the evening, was inspired by a 1944 work by Caroline Durieux called VISITOR, which depicts a skeletal woman in a long, transparent dress.
The singer’s dress was designed by Olivier Rousteing, creative director of Balmain, entirely constructed with crystals over a transparent tulle that created an anatomical effect almost like a living sculpture.
Anne Hathaway
Star of The Devil Wears Prada 2 and highly anticipated on the Red Carpet, Anne Hathaway wore a black evening gown created by Michael Kors in collaboration with artist Peter McGough, who hand-painted it.
The piece was inspired by the poem ODE TO A GREEK URN by John Keats, and the illustrations contained the art of ancient Greek vases, symbols of peace, beauty, and harmony in accordance with classical Greco-Roman aesthetics.
Rachel Zegler
Rachel Zegler brought to the red carpet the work THE EXECUTION OF LADY JANE GREY by Paul Delaroche, beautifully represented by a custom white dress by Prabal Gurung, adorned with a transparent silk mask/veil covering her eyes. Sublime!
Yu-Chi Lyra
Another masterfully represented work of art was a reinterpretation of the Winged Victory of Samothrace—yes, the same statue chosen by Kendall, but in a completely different interpretation—incorporated into the outfit.
Yu-Chi Lyra, an Asian actress, wore this sculptural white dress that looked like a marble/plaster statue incorporated into her body. A true work of art by the master Jean Paul Gaultier.
Sarah Paulson
And lastly, I would like to highlight Sarah Paulson, always very attuned to political and activist issues.
She walked the Met in a dress created by the atelier Matières Fécales—which translates to “Fecal Matter”—from the collection The One Percent, and an eye mask with the print of a one-dollar bill.
Provocation? Criticism? Or a direct message to the patrons of the party?
It is known that many celebrities declined the invitation to the event explicitly because they were against the sponsor, such as Zendaya and Meryl Streep, absences that were undoubtedly commented on and lamented.
In my view, Sarah chose the exact opposite: to mark her presence as a welcome guest without giving up expressing her positions.
And that is art!
