This year, we're celebrating The Met's 150th birthday! The Museum was founded on April 13, 1870, to bring art and art education to the American people. A century and a half later, The Met displays tens of thousands of objects spanning 5,000 years of art from around the world for everyone to experience and enjoy. To mark the history-making occasion, we asked #MetKids to send us 150th birthday cards they made for The Met. From a colorful fish that reminds us of the koi swimming in the pond of the Astor Chinese Garden Court—to a towering five-story cake—here are just a few of the amazing artworks and messages we received from #MetKids around the world!
"Congratulations to the MET and all the staff on this very big occasion. Happy Anniversary MET!!!"
– Paula, age 8, Mexico City, Mexico
"I was soooo excited when I got to know that you invited me to join the Met's 150th anniversary… My mom helped me to create some videos of how I paint something interesting on Youtube this summer. I enjoy showing how much fun we could have when we do art. I feel so happy & free when I paint. I hope more and more kids could enjoy together.
Happy 150th Anniversary, The Metropolitan Museum of Art!"
– Elan, age 8, Mill Creek, Washington
"Happy Birthday MET!!!!!! My name is Amélia. I am Portuguese and I just turned 5 years old last March. My parents love NY, they went there for their honeymoon in 2012, and spent one entire day at the Met. My mother loves The Met!
In this quarantine my mommy showed me the #MetKids site and we all loved it. My mother then asked me to choose one work of art that we would try to duplicate. I love blue and I chose Icarus by Henri Matisse. I would love to go there one day and see all these works for real. One day we will all go. Until then, my mother gave me the "M" button that served as their ticket, and I always wear it on my jacket when I'm exploring the #MetKids site."
– Amélia, age 5, Espinho, Portugal
"Happy birthday, Met!"
– Freya, age 8, Brooklyn, New York
"Happy birthday, Met!"
– Evelyn, age 8, Denver, Colorado, who built The Met a rainbow birthday cake, complete with candles on top!
Let's keep it going! Send your artwork to metkids@metmuseum.org for a chance to be featured on #MetKids!
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