Art of the Himalayas
The current installation of Tibetan and Nepalese art features several recent acquisitions and gifts, including two figurative oil lamps from seventeenth and eighteenth-century Nepal (2020.288.1, .2) gifted by the Zimmerman family; important Tibetan bronzes donated by Edith Kubicek in memory of her husband Peter (2024.441.1a–c, .2); and a rare portrait from around 1830 of Col. Randabir Singh Thapa (2021.100), a key figure in Nepalese political life of the period.
The exhibition is made possible by the Florence and Herbert Irving Fund for Asian Art Exhibitions.
Seated Ganesha (detail), India, Odisha, 16th century. Ivory, H. 7 1 in. (18.4 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York. Gift of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Klejman, 1964 (64.102)]
Ganesha: Lord of New Beginnings
Through January 4, 2026
Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is a Brahmanical (Hindu) diety known to clear a path to the gods and remove obstacles in everyday life. He is loved by his devotees (bhakti) for his many traits, including his insatiable appetite for sweet cakes and his role as a dispenser of magic, surprise, and laughter. However, Ganesha is also the lord of ganas (nature deities) and can take on a fearsome aspect in this guise.
The seventh- to twenty-first-century works in this exhibition trace his depiction across the Indian subcontinent, the Himalayas, and Southeast Asia. Featuring 24 works across sculptures, paintings, musical instruments, ritual implements, and photography, the exhibition emphasizes the vitality and exuberance of Ganesha as the bringer of new beginnings.
This exhibition is made possible by the Florence and Herbert Irving Fund for Asian Art Exhibitions.
To learn more, click here.
Celebrating the Year of the Snake
Through February 1, 2026
The traditional East Asian lunar calendar consists of a repeating twelve-year cycle, with each year corresponding to one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. January 29, 2025, marked the Year of the Snake, a creature characterized as alert, calm, and smart.
The exhibition presents a remarkable selection of works drawn from the Museum’s collection, illustrating the role of the snake in Chinese culture, including a 3,000-year-old bronze ritual vessel with a spout formed by joined snakes’ heads (1985.214.1a, b), a 13th-century pottery figure of a mischievously smiling snake (1994.605.38), and an 18th-century, exquisitely painted porcelain cup portraying a scene from the Legend of the White Snake (79.2.1281), a popular folktale of love and romance between humans and fantastic creatures.
The exhibition is made possible by the Joseph Hotung Fund.
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Patchwork wrapping cloth (jogakbo), Korea, 1980-90s. Stitched silk on wrapped canvas. 33 x 28 3/8 in. (83.8 x 72.1 cm). Gift of the children of Lea R. Sneider, 2024 (2024.301.15)
Colorful Korea: The Lea R. Sneider Collection
Through February 15, 2026
Over the course of forty years, Lea R. Sneider (1925–2020) formed a significant collection of Korean art that challenged established norms. While appreciating literati art, she was particularly drawn to lively and colorful forms connected to everyday life, resulting in a diverse collection that illustrates Korea’s vibrant material culture. This exhibition features a substantial gift and loans from the Lea R. Sneider Collection, generously provided by her children. Through approximately 100 artworks from the fifth century to the present—including paintings, ceramics, furniture, textiles, and funerary and ritual objects—the exhibition highlights the pervasiveness of auspicious symbolism and the unpretentious dynamism in Korean art.
The exhibition is made possible by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the Republic of Korea (MCST).
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Bottle with lotuses, late 15th century, porcelain with raised slip and enamels (Jingdezhen fahua ware), H. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm); Diam. 7 1/8 in. (18.1 cm); Bequest of John D. Rockefeller Jr., 1960
Embracing Color: Enamel in Chinese Decorative Arts, 1300-1900
Through June 28, 2026
Enamel decoration is a significant element of Chinese decorative arts that has long been overlooked. This exhibition reveals the aesthetic, technical, and cultural achievement of Chinese enamel wares by demonstrating the transformative role of enamel during the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1911) dynasties. The first transformational moment occurred in the late 14th to 15th century, when the introduction of cloisonné enamel from the West, along with the development of porcelain with overglaze enamels, led to a shift away from a monochromatic palette to colorful works. The second transformation occurred in the late 17th to 18th century, when European enameling materials and techniques were brought to the Qing court and more subtle and varied color tones were developed on enamels applied over porcelain, metal, glass, and other mediums. In both moments, Chinese artists did not simply adopt or copy foreign techniques; they actively created new colors and styles that reflected their own taste. The more than 100 objects on view are drawn mainly from The Met collection.
This exhibition is made possible by the Florence and Herbert Irving Fund for Asian Art Exhibitions.
To learn more, click here.
A Passion for Jade: The Bishop Collection
Through June 28, 2026
More than 100 remarkable objects from the Heber R. Bishop collection, especially carvings of jade, the most esteemed stone in China, and many other hardstones, are on view in this focused presentation. These refined works represent the sophisticated art of Chinese gemstone carvers during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911) as well as the highly accomplished skills of Mogul Indian (1526–1857) craftsmen, who provided an exotic inspiration to their counterparts. Also on view are a set of stone-working tools and illustrations of jade workshops, which introduce the traditional method of working jade.
The exhibition is made possible by the Florence and Herbert Irving Fund for Asian Art Exhibitions.
To learn more, click here.
Gallery Notice
The Arts of Japan Galleries (223–232) are temporarily closed until January 2026 while the galleries undergo an energy efficiency upgrade to LED lighting. The galleries will reopen with a new exhibition, The Infinite Artistry of Japanese Ceramics. We appreciate your understanding as we build a more sustainable Met.
