The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Neue Galerie New York have announced a landmark merger scheduled for completion in 2028, bringing one of the most significant private collections of early 20th-century Austrian and German art under The Met’s stewardship. Coinciding with the museum’s 25th anniversary, the agreement preserves the distinctive atmosphere of the institution—from its galleries to Café Sabarsky—while extending its international reach through The Met’s global infrastructure.
Housed in the historic William Starr Miller House on Fifth Avenue, the museum will ultimately be renamed The Met Ronald S. Lauder Neue Galerie. The merger arrives ahead of planned renovations beginning May 27th, 2026, with reopening expected in Autumn 2026.
Neue Galerie New York begins a transformative new chapter with The Met
Founded by collector and philanthropist Ronald S. Lauder alongside dealer Serge Sabarsky, the Neue Galerie has earned global recognition for its defining holdings of Viennese and German modernism. Its collection includes works by Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, Max Beckmann, and Gabriele Münter, including Klimt’s celebrated portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I.
Under the agreement, the museum’s collection, endowment, and landmark Beaux-Arts building will transfer to The Met while the Neue Galerie continues as a distinct institutional identity. Staff, exhibitions, design shops, bookstore, and Café Sabarsky will remain in place, while The Met expands research, digital initiatives, and global visibility.
In a statement, Ronald S. Lauder reflected on the decision: “The merger with The Met in 2028 will preserve and strengthen the Neue Galerie’s legacy in perpetuity.”
Ronald Lauder’s art collection expands the museum’s cultural legacy
As part of the merger, Ronald S. Lauder and Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer will donate 13 major works from their private collection, including Klimt’s Die Tänzerin (The Dancer), Kirchner’s Die Russische Tänzerin Mela, and Beckmann’s Galleria Umberto, alongside promised gifts by Otto Dix, Franz Marc, and George Grosz.
The Ronald Lauder collection has long shaped public understanding of Austrian and German modernism in the United States. Additional financial commitments from the Lauder family and Met trustees will support a substantial endowment for the museum’s future care and operations.
Max Hollein, CEO and Director of The Met, stated, “Ronald Lauder is a collector like none other. Ronald has established a museum that is itself a work of art, and ultimately a profound reflection of his passion, expertise, and philanthropy.”
A historic union that preserves the spirit of Vienna 1900
The merger extends beyond institutional consolidation. It reflects a shared intent to safeguard the atmosphere and intellectual intensity that have defined the Neue Galerie within New York’s cultural landscape. From immersive exhibitions to the intimate setting of Café Sabarsky, the museum has long offered a passage into the world of Vienna circa 1900 and Weimar-era Germany.
A Special Advisory Board, chaired by Ronald S. Lauder, will oversee the transition and future direction of the museum.
Closing his statement, Lauder wrote: “Through this partnership, we can carry the Neue Galerie forward with distinction.”
Courtesy of the MET
