Few artists can boast of having their works displayed in a prestigious museum like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. However, there is a group of creatives that, every two years, gets this incredible opportunity: the museum’s staff.
Through the exhibition “Art Work: Artists Working at the Met,” which will be open until December 1, visitors can explore the creations of the institution’s workers, who contribute daily to the management and enrichment of the museum.
This year, more than 600 works are on display, ranging from paintings and prints to ceramics, embroidery, and digital art. Among the participants are security guards, technicians, librarians, designers, and volunteers, all united by a shared passion for art.
Christopher Fahey, a specialist in managing and installing the Met’s artifacts and a multimedia artist, described the experience to the New York Post as one of the most meaningful aspects of his work.
For the exhibition, Fahey created an intricate sculpture using a piece of redwood he found in the trash, a project he worked on for two years. Other colleagues drew inspiration from everyday life or from the museum’s own artifacts.
Although the tradition of this exhibition dates back to 1935, until 2022, it was not open to the public. For the second time, the event is accessible to all visitors, further highlighting the hidden talents within the museum’s walls.
Daniel Kershaw, head of the exhibit’s design, emphasized the growing enthusiasm among staff, noting that the number of works nearly doubled this year.
The exhibition serves as a tribute to the creativity that permeates every corner of the Met. It aims to demonstrate that the passion for art is not confined to the great masters of the past but thrives in the individuals who dedicate themselves daily to preserving and celebrating it.
