The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York will mount a major retrospective of the work of John Galliano, the British designer whose career has been marked by both brilliance and controversy. The exhibition, titled “John Galliano: The Unvarnished,” will open in May and will trace his trajectory from his early London days to his tenure at Givenchy, Dior, and his current role at Maison Margiela.
A career in full
The show will feature over 200 garments and accessories, drawn from the museum’s own collection and loans from private archives and the designer’s personal archive. It will also include sketches, photographs, and film footage, offering a comprehensive look at Galliano’s creative process and his influence on fashion.
The retrospective comes at a time when Galliano has been lauded for his recent work at Maison Margiela, which has been praised by critics and celebrities alike. However, the exhibition will not shy away from the darker chapters of his life, including his 2011 dismissal from Dior after a video showed him making antisemitic remarks.
A complicated legacy
According to the museum, the exhibition aims to present a “nuanced and unvarnished” portrait of the designer, acknowledging both his artistic genius and his personal failings. The show’s title is a nod to that intention.
Galliano, 65, has been a polarizing figure in fashion. His early work in the 1980s and 1990s was celebrated for its theatricality and historical references, and he was credited with reinvigorating the house of Dior during his 15-year tenure. After his downfall, he staged a comeback at Maison Margiela in 2014, where he has been credited with revitalizing the avant-garde label.
The exhibition is scheduled to run from May 10 to September 7, 2026. It will be the first major retrospective of Galliano’s work in the United States, and the museum hopes it will draw large crowds.
