Tucked beneath The Met's Grand Staircase, the Byzantine Crypt is an intimate room of exposed brick and arched portals, and its jewelry, textiles and ivories now share space with contemporary works about death and what may follow. Adrian Piper's Everything #4 anchors the room and reappears in four more Fifth Avenue galleries and at The Met Cloisters. If you prefer your museum visits quiet and reflective, start here.
What to expect
You step off the main flow into a low, brick-walled gallery where Byzantine Egyptian burial objects sit near modern artworks. Piper's piece invites you to read its statement and catch your own reflection, and tracking down its other installations makes a loose route through the building.
Good to know
- Find it in Gallery 302, the Byzantine Crypt, in the space beneath the Grand Staircase
- Look for Adrian Piper's work in Galleries 512, 617, 726 and 914 as well
- The room is small, so it works as a calm break between big exhibitions
- The Cloisters' Gothic Chapel holds one more Piper installation if you head uptown
Going? Keep it.
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Common questions
Where is the Byzantine Crypt?
Gallery 302 in the Mary and Michael Jaharis Galleries, in the space beneath the Museum's Grand Staircase.
Is there an extra ticket?
No. The Met lists the show as free with Museum admission.
