The human figure is at the center of “Costume Art,” The Met’s new exhibition—exploring how it has been dressed, undressed, shaped, decorated, and celebrated across centuries of art. In this feature, Vogue adds a small chapter to that story with five works by contemporary female artists, each reflecting on the body in all its wonderful and diverse glory.

STUDY IN CONTRASTS
“Costume Art” is built around historical contrasts. Here, Harley Weir presents a body wearing a leather British army apron and a 19th-century crinoline.
Photograph by Harley Weir

ALL UPSIDE
The “Abstract Body” is one of the exhibition’s themes. A self-portrait by Isabelle Wenzel (who trained as an acrobat) plays with that idea.
Photograph by Isabelle Wenzel

ADD A LAYER
Evening, 2019, by Tschabalala Self—who serves on the advisory committee for “Costume Art”—uses bodily scale and shape for expressive effect.
Artwork by Tschabalala Self

BARE IT ALL
The nude body is Coco Capitán’s focus in this work—and a recurring theme throughout the exhibition.
Photograph by Coco Capitán

In this story: Makeup by Abbie Nourse. Produced by Valeria Rocca.

Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs about five female artists reflecting on the Met Gala theme written in a natural tone with clear answers

1 What exactly is this article or feature about

Its about five different female artists who share their personal thoughts on the Met Galas yearly theme They talk about what the theme means to them how it connects to their own work and how theyd interpret it visually

2 Why ask artists about the Met Gala theme Isnt it just about fashion

Fashion and art are deeply connected The Met Gala theme is often inspired by art history culture or social issues Artists can offer a deeper more thoughtful perspective on the themes meaning than just what looks good on a red carpet

3 Who are the five female artists mentioned Can you name a few

The specific artists change depending on the publication or event Generally they are contemporary women working in visual artslike Mickalene Thomas Catherine Opie or Lorna Simpson Youd need to check the specific article for the exact list

4 What kind of things do these artists usually say about the theme

They often go beyond the surface For example if the theme is Gilded Glamour an artist might talk about wealth inequality in that era or the overlooked labor of women and people of color They focus on symbolism history and emotion rather than just the dresses

5 Is this just a onetime thing or do artists comment on the Met Gala every year

Its not an annual tradition for every artist but many magazines will ask a few artists to weigh in each year Its a way to bring a fineart lens to a popculture event

6 How is this different from what a fashion critic or a celebrity stylist would say

A fashion critic focuses on trends designers and whether a look worked A stylist talks about fit and execution An artist focuses on concept narrative and cultural meaninglike what the theme says about society identity or beauty