Torkwase Dyson

The Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition, Art Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, will present a cultural and historical examination of the Black dandy, from the figure’s emergence in Enlightenment Europe during the 18th century to today’s incarnations in cities around the world.

Inspired by Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book, Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, the exhibition will present a cultural and historical examination of the Black dandy, from the figure’s emergence in Enlightenment Europe during the 18th century to 21st-century incarnations in the cosmopolitan cities of London, New York, and Paris. 

Artist Torkwase Dyson will create the conceptual design for the exhibition, which will be realized by The Met’s Design Department and SAT3 Studio. Artist Tanda Fran-cis will design two bespoke sculpted mannequin heads that will be produced for the exhibition. Iké Udé will serve as Special Consultant.

To mark the exhibition opening, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Anna Wintour will co-chair The Costume Institute Benefit (also known as The Met Gala®) on May 5, 2025, with honorary chair LeBron James. Additionally, chef Kwame Onwuachi will create the menu for the evening and artist Cy Gavin will design the décor concept alongside Derek McLane and Raúl Àvila. The annual event provides the department with its primary source of annual funding for exhibitions, publications, acquisitions, operations, and capital improvements.