The Metropolitan Museum of Art will host "Designing the Gilded Age: Drawings from the Studios of Louis C. Tiffany," the first major exhibition dedicated to the design drawings behind Tiffany Studios' iconic Gilded Age creations. Opening October 22, 2026, and running through February 7, 2027, at The Met Fifth Avenue, the exhibition will showcase nearly 120 works, including newly conserved drawings and significant loans, offering an unprecedented look into the studio's creative process.
A highlight of the exhibition is the reunion of the monumental stained-glass window, Woman in a Pergola with Wisteria (1911), from the Chrysler Museum of Art, with its original wisteria transoms. This marks the first time the ensemble will be presented together in at least half a century, following the recent discovery of the transoms in a private home. The exhibition is made possible by Tiffany & Co.
Max Hollein, The Met's Marina Kellen French Director and Chief Executive Officer, said, "The Met's unparalleled collection of design drawings from the studios of Louis C. Tiffany reveals how some of the most iconic works of American decorative art came to life." He added that the exhibition "illuminates the artistry, innovation, and collaboration at the heart of Tiffany studios, while offering new insights into the cultural and aesthetic ambitions of the Gilded Age."
Alice Cooney Frelinghuysen, The Met's Anthony W. and Lulu C. Wang Curator of American Decorative Arts, emphasized the significance of the conserved works. "As these works have been conserved to their full beauty, they reveal the richness and complexity of the studio's creative process," she said. The exhibition spans the early 1890s through the 1920s, documenting designs for stained-glass windows, lamps, mosaics, enamels, textiles, and interiors across various settings in the United States and internationally.
The exhibition also sheds light on the collaborative nature of Tiffany Studios, acknowledging the contributions of diverse designers, including Frederick Wilson, Jacob Holzer, Agnes Northrop, Clara Driscoll, and Julia Munson. Many drawings on view document works that are now lost or were never realized, providing invaluable historical information. The presentation will also explore the conservation efforts behind these fragile works on paper.