MEGA’s Favorite Art References at the Met Gala 2026
Art history buffs, it’s your time to shine. With this year’s Met Gala theme revealed, the lens shifted to paintings and sculptures. As the steps bore witness to rich references and nods to iconic works, fashion transformed into an ode to art—where craftsmanship met concepts through true sartorial scholarship.
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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.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Photos: GORUNWAY and METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART (via Instagram)
Text by ANYA OXYN and MOIRA DEL ROSARIO
The post MEGA’s Favorite Art References at the Met Gala 2026 first appeared on MEGA.
MEGA’s Favorite Art References at the Met Gala 2026
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