New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced a new theme for the exhibition accompanying its prestigious annual Met Gala, after scrapping a retrospective of British designer John Galliano over his past racist remarks.
Running from May 9, 2027, to January 9, 2028, the exhibition, titled extraORDINARY, "will examine how design reveals unexpected possibilities within everyday things", the museum said.
Galliano and the museum announced in late August that the planned retrospective would not proceed, following criticism from donors and political figures.
"After much reflection and discussion with all those involved, I have decided, with great sadness, that it is best for the exhibition not to take place at this time," Galliano, 65, wrote on Instagram.
He said he remained accountable for the pain his past words caused and was deeply sorry.
Galliano, creative director of Christian Dior from 1996 to 2011, saw his career collapse after making racist remarks to customers at a Paris bar. He was subsequently convicted by a French court.
He later joined Maison Margiela, serving as creative director for a decade before leaving in 2024. In March 2026, he announced a two-year artistic partnership with Spanish retailer Zara.
The Costume Institute exhibition is largely funded by the star-studded gala, whose 2027 edition is scheduled for May 3.
"The ordinary is never quite as simple as it appears," said Costume Institute curator Andrew Bolton, describing how everyday garments can carry traces of their owners' lives, habits, memories and attachments. — AFP
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