The Face of Life: Modern Portraits at The Met

Name: The Face of Life: Modern Portraits at The Met
Start: 2026-05-18T14:00:00.000Z
End: 2026-10-27T14:00:00.000Z
Location: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Upper East Side, Manhattan

ArtPicasso to Neel

This is the Met flexing its own vaults: nearly 80 faces painted across the century when portraiture stopped flattering and started interrogating — Picasso fracturing his sitters, Alice Neel x-raying hers, Magritte refusing to show a face at all. Everything comes from the permanent collection, so it's full of works that rarely hang together in one narrative. Included with regular admission, it's an easy add-on to any weekend Met visit — and a cool refuge on a July afternoon.

What to expect

A focused, single-suite exhibition — an hour does it comfortably — organized around how the human figure was reimagined from 1900 to the 1960s. Weekend middays are the Met's busiest window; mornings at opening or the last two hours are calmer.

Good to know

4/5/6 to 86 St, then a short walk to Fifth Avenue at 82nd
Included with general admission — pay-what-you-wish for NY State residents and NY/NJ/CT students
Open until 9pm on Saturdays — evening visits beat the crowds
Pairs well with the Met's rooftop (seasonal) for a full visit
Fully wheelchair accessible; free coat check

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Common questions

Is there a separate ticket?

No — it's included with Met admission, which is pay-what-you-wish for New York State residents.

How long does the show take?

About 45 minutes to an hour for the roughly 80 works.

The Face of Life: Modern Portraits at The Met

What to expect

Good to know

Get Saturday planned every Thursday

Common questions

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