Iris van Herpen’s Sculpting the Senses opened at the Brooklyn Museum on May 16, 2026, adding a major couture-and-technology exhibition to New York’s fashion map. Even though the show is outside Manhattan, it is essential for Manhattan’s fashion schools, stylists, designers, and editors.
The exhibition frames Van Herpen’s work through motion, science, biomimicry, couture craft, and experimental materials. That makes it one of the strongest current museum references for designers working with 3D forms, sculptural silhouettes, performance styling, and future-facing eveningwear.
For Manhattan readers, the visit is especially useful as a counterpoint to the Met’s Costume Art exhibition. Together, the two shows create a strong May fashion itinerary: one rooted in fashion’s relationship to art history, the other in fashion’s relationship to technology and nature.
Source: Brooklyn Museum exhibition page.
Editorial note: Manhattan Fashion Magazine writes original short-form updates from verified public sources and official event pages. Always confirm times, tickets, and access rules with the organizer before attending.