Masterpieces and Met Gala Magic: When Budapest’s Gallery Met New York’s Red Carpet
Every spring, the Met Gala transforms New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art into a dazzling spectacle of fashion, celebrity, and creativity. But in 2025, amidst the sea of couture, Budapest’s Hungarian National Gallery playfully reimagined the event by matching A-listers’ looks with iconic artworks from its collection. If you’re a foreign visitor in Budapest, this creative crossover offers a fresh lens for exploring both global pop culture and Hungarian art history.
The Met Gala: Where Fashion Meets Fantasy
The Met Gala is not just a party-it’s a cultural phenomenon. Each year, celebrities and designers interpret a new theme, turning the museum’s steps into a living art gallery. The 2025 theme, celebrating the bold and refined tradition of Black dandy style, encouraged guests to embrace elegance, individuality, and a touch of theatricality. This year, the Hungarian National Gallery’s social media team took the fun even further, drawing playful parallels between the night’s most memorable looks and the masterpieces lining their own historic halls.
Jeff Goldblum: Budapest’s Unexpected Fashion Icon
Let’s start with the man who truly stole the show: Jeff Goldblum. Arriving at the Met Gala in a double-breasted, pinstriped tuxedo layered with a navy overcoat trimmed in Mongolian shearling and adorned with antique buttons, Goldblum was the living embodiment of aristocratic drama. His accessories-ornate brooches, a crisp bow tie, and patent leather Manolo Blahnik opera shoes-sealed the deal.
It’s no wonder the Hungarian National Gallery immediately matched him with August von Pettenkofen’s portrait of Imrédy János, a 19th-century Hungarian nobleman. Goldblum didn’t just wear a suit-he became a character, as if he’d stepped out of a gilded frame and onto the red carpet. His look was less “red carpet” and more “royal court,” and he wore it with a sense of theatricality and intention that made him the night’s true aristocrat.
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What made Goldblum’s Met Gala moment so memorable wasn’t just the impeccable tailoring or the old-world glamour. It was the intention behind it. Goldblum himself described being moved to tears during his fitting, overwhelmed by the artistry and care that went into every detail. For him, fashion isn’t just about looking sharp-it’s about making a statement, a gesture, even a protest. He draws inspiration from jazz legends like Thelonious Monk and Miles Davis, whose style was as revolutionary as their music. This year’s Met Gala theme was a celebration of Black menswear and cultural expression, and Goldblum embraced it with his trademark wit and warmth. His look was a playful nod to history, but also a powerful reminder that style can be both deeply personal and universally resonant.
Tyla and Kemény Zoltán: Innocence Reimagined
South African singer Tyla made waves at the Met Gala with a look that echoed the gentle nostalgia of Kemény Zoltán’s “Gyerekek, 1945.” Tyla’s ensemble, with its soft lines and youthful charm, seemed to step straight out of this postwar Hungarian painting, blending innocence and modern flair in a way that would make any gallery-goer smile.
Priyanka Chopra and Rippl-Rónai József: Polka Dots with a Twist
Priyanka Chopra, Bollywood and Hollywood royalty, turned heads in a gown reminiscent of Rippl-Rónai József’s “Woman in a White Polka-Dot Dress, 1889.” Her outfit played with the same playful polka dots and bold contrasts, but with a twist: Chopra’s look inverted the classic motif, giving it a fresh, contemporary edge that would have delighted Rippl-Rónai himself.
Manish Malhotra and Fernando Botero: Sculptural Statements
Indian designer Manish Malhotra took inspiration from Fernando Botero’s “Self-Portrait, 1992.” Botero’s signature voluminous forms found a new expression in Malhotra’s bold, sculptural tailoring, turning the designer into a living artwork. The exaggerated silhouettes paid homage to Botero’s unique approach to shape and proportion, making Malhotra a walking masterpiece.
image source: Hungarian National Gallery
Kim Kardashian and Edmond Georges Grandjean: Equestrian Elegance
Kim Kardashian’s Met Gala look was pure spectacle, channeling the drama of Edmond Georges Grandjean’s “Mademoiselle Elise’s Equestrian Performance, 1883.” With her structured corsetry and theatrical flair, Kardashian looked ready to leap from the canvas and into the ring, embodying the poised power of Grandjean’s equestrian muse.
Lupita Nyong’o and Jan Verhas: Solitude in Style
Lupita Nyong’o’s look radiated quiet strength, reminiscent of Jan Verhas’s “Alone, 1887.” Her elegant, contemplative style captured the introspective mood of the painting, proving that solitude can be both powerful and beautiful on the red carpet.
Pusha T and Tihanyi Lajos: Modern Masculinity
American rapper Pusha T brought a modern edge to the Met Gala, echoing the bold, angular forms of Tihanyi Lajos’s “Seated Man, 1920s.” His sharp tailoring and confident pose were a nod to Tihanyi’s avant-garde vision of masculinity, bridging past and present with effortless cool.
Shakira and Luigi Nono: Grace in Motion
Shakira’s flowing ensemble drew inspiration from Luigi Nono’s “Walking Woman, 1891.” The Colombian singer’s look captured the painting’s sense of movement and grace, transforming her into a living embodiment of Nono’s elegant muse.
Jon Michael Hill and Laurits Regner Tuxen: Portrait of an Artist
Jon Michael Hill’s refined style mirrored Laurits Regner Tuxen’s portrait of fellow artist Peder Severin Krøyer, 1904. Hill’s understated elegance and artistic aura made him a fitting counterpart to Tuxen’s depiction of creative genius.
Tom Ford and Solomon Joseph Solomon: Dandy Distinction
Fashion powerhouse Tom Ford brought the dandy spirit to life, channeling Solomon Joseph Solomon’s portrait of Jeral Zangwill from the late 19th century. Ford’s meticulous tailoring and confident presence paid homage to the refined, cosmopolitan style that defined both the painting and the Met Gala’s theme.
Budapest’s Gallery Runway: Where Art and Fashion Collide
If you’re visiting Budapest, don’t miss the chance to walk through the Hungarian National Gallery and see the masterpieces that inspired this year’s Met Gala magic. The gallery’s playful social media campaign matched celebrities’ outfits with iconic paintings, and Goldblum’s aristocratic ensemble was a clear favorite. It’s a delightful reminder that art and fashion are two sides of the same coin-both are about storytelling, self-expression, and a little bit of showmanship.
So next time you find yourself in Budapest, channel your inner Jeff Goldblum. Wander the gallery, strike a pose, and imagine yourself as the star of your own Met Gala moment. Who knows? You might just discover that the true heart of fashion beats not only in New York, but right here in the historic halls of Buda Castle.
The Last Word: Timeless Style from Budapest to New York
This playful pairing of Met Gala celebrities with Hungarian and international masterpieces isn’t just a social media stunt-it’s a reminder of how art and fashion continually inspire each other. For Budapest visitors, the Hungarian National Gallery offers a chance to see these masterpieces up close and imagine how today’s icons might have fit into the city’s storied artistic past. If you don’t wish to wander around the Gallery even offers guided tours so that you won’t miss the most outstanding masterpieces of the collection. Whether you’re a fan of bold tailoring, dramatic silhouettes, or timeless elegance, Budapest’s gallery halls and the Met Gala’s red carpet prove that true style knows no borders-or centuries. And thanks to Jeff Goldblum’s unforgettable turn as Budapest’s most dashing “aristocrat,” you’ll never look at art-or fashion-the same way again.