The Met Fifth Avenue will close early at 5 pm on Friday, May 30 for an event.

Asmat Encounters

In 1961, 23-year-old Michael C. Rockefeller made two trips to New Guinea where he met with Asmat elders and artists.

In 1961, 23-year-old Michael C. Rockefeller made two trips to New Guinea where he met with Asmat elders and artists, purchasing and collecting artworks. Today, these same works welcome visitors to the Arts of Oceania galleries at The Met, where they are installed in the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing that bears his name. In New Guinea, Asmat customs and ceremonies continue to be practiced, with knowledge and crafts passed down between generations.


Woman painting yellow dots across a black canvas laid on the ground
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Man standing, surrounded by artwork with swirling, geometric designs
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Woman painting pink and white designs on a large piece of bark
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