A Tairona gold pendant from northern Colombia shows a figure with a crocodile-like head and a towering headdress, while a monumental fresco dragon from a medieval monastery bares its teeth nearby. It is the first time art of the ancient Americas has been shown at The Met Cloisters, with loans that include a Zapotec bat-lord sculpture never before seen in New York. If the trip to Fort Tryon Park keeps slipping, its last weeks are the push.
What to expect
The objects are spread over three galleries inside the Cloisters, so you meet monsters between chapels, cloister gardens and stained glass. Expect small, intricate pieces worth leaning in for, like ivories, jewelry and textiles, next to larger sculpture and wall painting, with labels that link creatures across the two continents.
Good to know
- Take the A train to 190th Street, then walk up through Fort Tryon Park
- The show is split across three separate galleries, so grab a map at the entrance
- Pair the visit with the Cloisters' gardens and the park's Hudson River views
- Kids who love dragons and monsters enjoy hunting for the hybrid creatures
- The Cloisters sits at the northern tip of Manhattan, so build in travel time
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Common questions
Is this exhibition at The Met Fifth Avenue?
No. It is at The Met Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park, in Galleries 001, 010 and 016.
Do I need a separate exhibition ticket?
No. The Met lists it as free with Museum admission.
What makes the show unusual?
It is the first time art of the ancient Americas has been presented at The Met Cloisters, shown in dialogue with medieval European works.
