MEGA’s Favorite Art References at the Met Gala 2026

This year, the Met steps became a canvas for museum-worthy art—not just to align with the theme, but to celebrate the enduring dialogue between art and fashion.

By Moira Del Rosario and Anya Oxyn May 06, 2026

Woman in a black draped gown with a hood, diamond necklace and earrings, gloved hands, metallic makeup, and tear-like streaks on her cheeks (fashion portrait).

Hunter Schafer: Mäda Primavesi by Gustav Klimt

The adage “life imitates art” came true in the form of Hunter Schafer becoming Gustav Klimt’s Mäda Primavesi in Prada. Much like the playful yet self-assured young muse of the painting, the Euphoria actress’s confidence made her a delight to see.

Woman on a red carpet wearing a pale floral gown with a long train, posing for photographers in the background. — Hunter Schafer in Prada

Young girl stands with hands on hips in a white dress decorated with a colorful flower belt against a purple floral background. The girl has a blue flower in her hair. — Mäda Primavesi by Gustav Klimt

Kendall Jenner:Winged Victory of Samothrace

Both Jenner sisters referenced sculptures for their attire this year, yet it’s always interesting to see how different their tastes are. For Kendall Jenner, fashion designer Zac Posen specifically chose the Winged Victory of Samothrace as a timeless symbol of strength, femininity, and freedom.

Woman on a red carpet wearing a cream off-shoulder, draped gown with a long train; photographers in the background. — Kendall Jenner in GapStudio by Zac Posen

Marble statue of Nike, the Winged Victory, with flowing drapery and extended wing against a pale wall. — Winged Victory of Samothrace

Madonna: The Temptation Of St. Anthony (Fragment II) by Leonora Carrington

Leave it to a pop artist to make a grand entrance. In her floor-sweeping Saint Laurent lace dress, tall ship hat, and organza fabric carried by her own coven, Madonna referenced Surrealist female painter Leonora Carrington.

Runway scene with models in pastel gowns holding long gray sheer capes; a central figure in a black dress wears a tall, sculptural headpiece while photographers watch. — Madonna in Saint Laurent

Group of robed figures holding a long flowing blue cloth across a rocky landscape in a surreal scene — The Temptation Of St. Anthony (Fragment II) by Leonora Carrington

Rachel Zegler: The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche

It was Rachel Zegler’s take on The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche that left many intrigued, especially after she captioned her photos wearing Prabal Gurung with “she was queen for just nine days before she paid the price, and so are the rest of us.”

Model in a white off-shoulder gown with a lace-up corset and long train, blindfolded, posing as photographers surround on a green-carpeted venue. — Rachel Zegler in Prabal Gurung

Blindfolded woman in a white satin gown sits on a cushion while a man in fur-trimmed robes leans toward her in a dim, medieval-style scene on stage/setting at left side of frame. — The Execution of Lady Jane Grey by Paul Delaroche

Heidi Klum: The Veiled Virgin by Giovanni Strazza

Heidi Klum may have startled at first glance, but the Queen of Halloween was exacting in her reference. Channeling The Veiled Virgin, she transformed the marble illusion into a full-length statement—expanding the sculpture’s famed veil into a meticulously draped, head-to-toe vision.

Person in a cream, draped gown and floral headpiece poses like a marble statue with arms outstretched on a pale tiled walkway, photographers in the background. — Heidi Klum in Mike Marino

White marble bust of a head and shoulders with a translucent veil draped over the face, set against a black background. — The Veiled Virgin by Giovanni Strazza

Anok Yai: Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows by Francisco Romero Zafra

In one of the evening’s most arresting interpretations, Anok Yai transformed into a living sculpture. Channeling a Black Madonna, she drew from the iconography of the Mother of Sorrows—her bronzed finish, glistening tear trails, and textured prosthetic hair forming a deeply reverent, artful statement.

Close-up of a Black woman with gold makeup and gold tear streaks running down her cheeks, gazing intensely at the camera. — Anok Yai in Balenciaga

Close-up of a statue's face with a gold headband and tear-streaks on the cheeks and chin area.G — Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows by Francisco Romero Zafra

Angela Bassett: Girl in a Pink Dress by Laura Wheeler Waring

When Angela Bassett turned to Prabal Gurung, he answered in pink. Beneath its seams lies a quiet homage to The Girl in a Pink Dress—echoing Laura Wheeler Waring’s enduring celebration of Black dignity and grace.

Woman in a pink sweetheart-neckline gown with floral embellishments posing on a red carpet, photographers in the background. — Angela Bassett in Prabal Gurung

Girl in a Pink Dress by Laura Wheeler Waring

Isha Ambani: Padmini the Lotus Lady by Raja Ravi Varma

On her sixth Met Gala appearance, Isha Ambani was adorned in opulent jewels beneath a gold saree, richly detailed with hand-painted motifs and intricate embroidery. The look paid homage to Raja Ravi Varma, drawing inspiration from Padmini the Lotus Lady. Even her now-viral mango-shaped purse offered a subtle nod to Woman Holding a Fruit, weaving art history seamlessly into modern couture.

Woman in a gold-and-silver saree-style gown with heavy emerald jewelry posing on a green-tiled runway as photographers film in the background — Isha Ambani in Gaurav Gupta

Woman in a pink saree walks barefoot through a pond filled with water lilies under a pale sky. — Padmini the Lotus Lady by Raja Ravi Varma

Charli XCX: Irises by Vincent Van Gogh

It’s a Van Gogh summer for Charli XCX, who arrived in a black Yves Saint Laurent gown crafted with silk, tulle, and resin, detailed with an iris motif. The reference harks back to the house’s Spring/Summer 1988 collection, which drew from Vincent van Gogh’s floral works—proof that fashion’s most compelling moments often begin with archival storytelling and artistic research.

Woman in a strapless black gown with a sheer train posing on a green-tloined carpet at a formal event, photographers in the background. — Charli XCX in Saint Laurent

Blue irises arranged in a pale pitcher on a green tabletop in an impressionist painting — Irises by Vincent Van Gogh

Photos: GORUNWAY and METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (via Instagram)

Text by ANYA OXYN and MOIRA DEL ROSARIO

Frequently Asked Questions

Which art pieces inspired the fashion designs at the 2026 Met Gala?

The 2026 Met Gala featured designs inspired by classical sculptures like the Winged Victory of Samothrace alongside iconic paintings by Gustav Klimt, Leonora Carrington, and Vincent van Gogh.

How did Hunter Schafer reference Gustav Klimt at the Met Gala?

Hunter Schafer wore a custom Prada gown that directly mirrored the vibrant color palette, floral patterns, and playful poise seen in Gustav Klimt’s famous painting, Mäda Primavesi.

What sculpture inspired Kendall Jenner’s 2026 Met Gala look?

Kendall Jenner’s gown was inspired by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, a historic marble sculpture chosen by designer Zac Posen to symbolize classical strength, femininity, and freedom.

Who designed Rachel Zegler’s art-inspired Met Gala dress?

Rachel Zegler wore a custom Prabal Gurung gown inspired by Paul Delaroche’s painting, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, evoking themes of historical tragedy and dramatic royal fashion.

How did Isha Ambani incorporate Indian art into her Met Gala outfit?

Isha Ambani wore a gold saree by Gaurav Gupta referencing Raja Ravi Varma’s painting, Padmini the Lotus Lady, incorporating traditional hand-painted motifs, embroidery, and a viral mango-shaped purse.