The Met's next fashion exhibit will focus on John Galliano, exploring both his extraordinary talent and the scandal that altered his career. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
The British designer was creative director at Christian Dior for nearly 15 years before making a series of antisemitic and racist comments in 2010 and 2011 that led to his conviction. Dropped by Dior, he spent years in rehabilitation efforts.
Now, he will become only the third living designer to have a solo show at the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The exhibit will address both his creative achievements and his derogatory conduct.
The museum stated: "Alongside Galliano's extraordinary creative accomplishments, the exhibition will address the derogatory conduct that fundamentally altered his career and public reception."
Lead curator Andrew Bolton noted the exhibit "considers both how Galliano has remapped the world through fashion and how his conduct, its consequences, and changing cultural values have reshaped our understanding of his work."
Organizers met with Jewish community leaders in New York to gauge their feelings, including Bolton, Galliano, and Anna Wintour.
The show will be organized into three parts: "Bearings" addresses the rupture caused by his antisemitic, racist, and anti-Asian conduct; "Horizons" examines his sources of inspiration; "Atlas of Transformation" focuses on his creativity and technical innovation.
The 2024 documentary "High & Low — John Galliano" suggests he was overworked and abusing alcohol and drugs when he made the comments. A video of him saying "I love Hitler" went viral.
Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said: "We believe John Galliano has genuinely worked through the issues that led to his antisemitic outburst years ago in Paris, and we have long since accepted his apology."
The show, "John Galliano: Horizons," will run from May 9, 2027, through Jan. 9, 2028.