Through January 10, 2027
The Met
For millennia, the subjects of death and the afterlife have captivated artists and artisans, inspiring profound exploration and reflection. The exhibition Afterlives: Contemporary Art in the Byzantine Crypt offers a compelling dialogue between historical Byzantine Egyptian funerary art and modern artistic interpretations of mortality and remembrance. Hosted in the evocative Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries, specifically within the intimate Byzantine Crypt (Gallery 302) beneath the Museum’s Grand Staircase, the exhibition creates a unique spatial and temporal encounter that bridges ancient traditions and contemporary visions.
The Byzantine Crypt itself, with its exposed brick walls and arched portals, provides an atmospheric setting, refurbished in 2000 to preserve the solemnity and mystique associated with the themes of life after death. Within this setting, visitors encounter relics and objects from Early Christian and Coptic monastic sites, including religious and secular jewelry, textiles, ivory carvings, vessels, and architectural sculptures. These artifacts not only reflect the historical context of funerary customs but also embody cultural memories, spiritual beliefs, and the human desire for continuity beyond mortality.
Complementing these historic treasures are contemporary artworks ranging from the 1960s to the present, encompassing sculpture, works on paper, and installations. These pieces echo the funerary traditions by functioning as memorials, reliquaries, or protective talismans, enriching the exhibition narrative with modern contemplations on death, memory, and the supernatural. One highlight is Adrian Piper’s editioned work Everything #4, a striking piece that invites visitors to engage with the concept of otherworldliness and self-reflection. Installed not only in the Byzantine Crypt but also throughout five additional galleries at The Met Fifth Avenue and The Met Cloisters, Piper’s work establishes a conceptual thread linking diverse spaces and audiences.
The exhibition extends beyond the crypt to other notable galleries: The Met Fifth Avenue hosts the installation in Gallery 512 (European Sculpture and Decorative Arts), Gallery 617 (European Paintings), Gallery 726 (The American Wing), and Gallery 914 (Modern and Contemporary Art). Meanwhile, The Met Cloisters presents it in Gallery 9, the Gothic Chapel, further emphasizing the thematic intersections of sacred space, artistic heritage, and contemporary practice.
Supported by The Jaharis Family Foundation, Afterlives: Contemporary Art in the Byzantine Crypt invites visitors to immerse themselves in a transhistorical investigation of mortality and spiritual legacy. This exhibition not only provides an exceptional opportunity to explore Byzantine art but also situates contemporary perspectives within a broader cultural and historical framework, offering a rich and meditative experience.
Learn more about this evocative exhibition by visiting the official page: https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/afterlives-contemporary-art-in-the-byzantine-crypt.
