Tourism at The Met: Summer 2021

Dear Tourism Partners,

Summer is here, and the energy and activity that defines New York City has returned. It includes a season of exciting new programming at The Met, which we are delighted to share. 

From paintings and sculpture to medals and carved gemstones, The Medici: Portraits and Politics, 1512–1570 explores a crucial and vibrant period in Italian art. The many standout works on view come from collections around the world and include extraordinary portraits by Raphael, Bronzino, Pontormo, Cellini, and others that were used to solidify cultural and political power in Renaissance Florence. The New York Times calls it “a sumptuous, vigorous exhibition.” The Medici is on view now through October 11. 

Opening July 2, The New Woman Behind the Camera is a groundbreaking exhibition of rarely seen works by women from more than 20 countries who made significant advances in modern photography from the 1920s to the 1950s. Embracing the medium as a mode of professional and artistic expression, these women photographers produced invaluable visual testimony that reflects both their personal experiences and the momentous social and political transformations of the era.

Don’t miss Alice Neel: People Come First, featuring vivid portraits of New Yorkers by the 20th-century artist whose commitment to civil rights and social justice inspired her life as well as her art. From pregnant mothers to queer performers, Alice Neel captured the diversity, resilience, and passion of the city she called home. Closing August 1.

This year’s installation on The Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden, As Long as the Sun Lasts by Alex Da Corte, is a 26-foot-tall kinetic sculpture featuring the beloved Sesame Street character Big Bird and the modern aesthetic of Alexander Calder’s standing mobiles. Visitors can enjoy art and sweeping views of Central Park and the city skyline through October 31 (weather permitting). 

At The Met Cloisters, the exquisite art and architecture of medieval Europe—complemented by the Museum’s enchanting gardens—will leave even the most experienced travelers feeling transported to the Middle Ages. Located in northern Manhattan’s Fort Tryon Park, The Cloisters is an urban oasis that overlooks the Hudson River. This digital feature provides a great introduction to The Met’s uptown branch.

The Museum has two casual outdoor dining locations that are perfect for the warm weather. The Trie Café at The Met Cloisters offers sandwiches and salads along with wine, beer, and other beverages. Those seeking a pre- or post-gallery pick-me-up will find coffee, freshly baked cinnamon rolls, and fruit ice pops at the new Plaza Café, accessible from the David H. Koch Plaza at The Met Fifth Avenue near 83rd Street. 

The joys of summer in the city are just beginning, and we hope to see you and your clients back at The Met soon. 

All the best, 

Jennifer Oetting
Senior Manager, Marketing