A Bat Lord Has Landed at the Cloisters – Now He'll Be Its Caretaker

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has appointed Andrew Winslow as collections manager of The Cloisters, its branch dedicated to medieval art, located in Fort Tryon Park, Manhattan. The appointment comes as the museum undertakes a major reinterpretation of its permanent galleries, aiming to present the medieval collection through a fresh, more contextual lens.

Winslow, whose official title is "collections manager," started in his role this year. He will oversee the care and management of around 2,000 works, including the renowned Hunt of the Unicorn tapestries and Romanesque capitals. The Met has announced a reinstallation of the galleries, with new interpretive approaches that emphasize historical and cultural contexts, as well as the integration of contemporary artworks in dialogue with the medieval holdings.

The Cloisters, opened in 1938, is celebrated for its reconstructed monastic architecture and lush gardens. It houses masterpieces such as the Lady and the Unicorn tapestries and the Fuentidueña Chapel, imported from Spain. The reinterpretation reflects a broader trend among American museums to revisit historical collections in light of current issues, including diversity and representation.

For Winslow, the challenge is also an opportunity: "It's an honor to safeguard these treasures and make them accessible to new audiences," he said. The project also includes educational programs and temporary exhibitions. While no completion date has been announced, visitors can already see some of the initial changes.

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Written by the ADM desk based on The New York Times — Art. Read the original article for the full story.