In a historic move that will reshape Museum Mile, NYC’s Metropolitan Museum of Art announced it will merge with its neighbor, the Neue Galerie New York, in 2028. This isn’t just a neighborly handshake–it’s one of the largest cultural gifts in history, combining the resources of the world’s most famous museum with a “jewel box” collection of Austrian and German masterpieces.
Once the merge is complete, Neue Galerie will be renamed the Met Ronald S. Lauder Neue Galerie, or simply “The Met Neue.”
The Gilded Age Gem Joining the Met’s Portfolio
The Neue Galerie isn’t just any building; it’s housed in the William Starr Miller House at 86th Street and Fifth Avenue. Completed in 1914, the Beaux-Arts mansion is widely considered one of the most distinguished buildings on the entire East Side.
Notably, it shares a DNA with another NYC landmark–it was designed by Carrère & Hastings, the same architects behind the New York Public Library flagship on 42nd Street.
According to museum records, Ronald Lauder and Serge Sabarsky purchased the mansion in 1994, transforming it into a dedicated home for German and Austrian art. By merging with the Met, this historic Museum Mile residence is essentially being “future-proofed” as a permanent public treasure.
A $200 Million Legacy and a “Woman in Gold”
The merge is anchored by a staggering $200 million endowment provided by Lauder and his daughter, Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer. According to the New York Times, this ensures the long-term care of the Neue’s home.
The crown jewel of the gift is undoubtedly Gustav Klimt’s “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I,” famously known as the “Woman in Gold.” Lauder purchased the gold-flecked masterpiece for $135 million in 2006, and it will remain a permanent fixture of the Met Neue.
Lauder told the Times, “It is our Mona Lisa.”
What’s Included in the Historic Gift?
Beyond the famous Klimt, the merge brings over 600 artworks to the Met, filling what Director Max Hollein calls “missing gaps” in the Met’s avant-garde collection. Key highlights of the donation include:
- 13 rare paintings from the Lauder family’s personal collection, including works by Otto Dix, George Grosz, and Franz Marc
- Klimt’s “The Dancer” (circa 1916-18) and “The Black Feather Hat” (1910)
- Max Beckmann’s “Galleria Umberto” (1925)
- Ernst Ludwig Kirchner’s “The Russian Dancer Mela” (1911)
Preserving the “Jewel Box” Character
While the Met is a sprawling two-million-square-foot giant, Lauder emphasized that the Met Neue will keep its intimate feel. He noted that the success of The Met Cloisters in maintaining its own unique identity gave him the confidence to move forward with the merge.
I want to make sure that after I’m no longer there—whatever happens—the Neue Galerie will stay the Neue Galerie. – Lauder
According to the Financial Times, the deal has been in the works since the summer of 2025, driven by Lauder’s desire to ensure these works remain accessible to the public in perpetuity.
What This Means for Visitors
If you’re planning a visit soon, take note of the following:
- The Big Change: The official merge and name change will take effect in 2028
- Temporary Closure: The Neue Galerie will close on May 27, 2026, for planned infrastructure renovations
- Fall Reopening: It’s slated to reopen this fall with a massive 25th-anniversary exhibition
