By North Carolina Museum of History Foundation
While the North Carolina Museum of History’s physical building remains closed for renovation, the museum’s mission continues through partnerships, public programs and storytelling that share North Carolina’s history far beyond its walls. The museum has announced that a piece from its collection will be featured in “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” the highly anticipated spring 2025 exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The “Superfine” exhibit, which opens May 10, explores the cultural and historical significance of Black style and dandyism from the 18th century to the present. The exhibition will highlight the intersection of African and European style traditions through a presentation of garments, accessories, paintings, photographs, decorative arts and more.
The museum has loaned a striking mid-19th-century dresser by Thomas Day, a free Black cabinetmaker who lived and worked in Milton, North Carolina. Known for his sophisticated, sculptural approach to furniture and architectural design, Day’s work blended classical European influences with bold, original forms. The museum holds the largest collection of Day’s work in the country.
According to the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Day “created fine furniture and architectural interiors for an elite clientele.” His style is aligned with the Dandyism because it is “characterized by undulating shapes, fluid lines, and spiraling forms. He combined his own unique motifs with popular designs to create a distinctive style readily identified with his shop.”
“It’s incredibly meaningful to see Thomas Day’s work recognized globally,” said John Campbell, collections management section chief at the North Carolina Museum of History. “Day carved beauty and power into every piece he created. Seeing his work spotlighted at The Met is a powerful reminder that his story, and the stories his work carries, continue to have a lasting impact.”
“Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” will be on view at The Met Fifth Avenue from May 10 to Oct. 26, 2025. The exhibition’s opening coincides with the 2025 Met Gala on May 5, co-chaired by Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams and Anna Wintour, with LeBron James serving as honorary chair.
To learn more about the museum’s ongoing work during renovation, visit ncmuseumofhistory.org.
About the N.C. Museum of History
The North Carolina Museum of History, a Smithsonian Affiliate, fosters a passion for North Carolina history. This museum collects and preserves artifacts of state history and educates the public on the history of the state and the nation through exhibits and educational programs. In 2024, more than 275,000 people visited the museum to see some of the 150,000 artifacts in the museum collection. Located in the heart of downtown Raleigh, the North Carolina Museum of History serves as the flagship historical institution of the Division of State History Museums. This division, part of the N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, includes seven regional history museums dedicated to preserving and interpreting the stories of North Carolina’s past.
About the Smithsonian Affiliations Network
Since 2006, the North Carolina Museum of History has been a Smithsonian Affiliate, part of a select group of museums and cultural, educational and arts organizations that share Smithsonian resources with the nation. The Smithsonian Affiliations network is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums and other educational and cultural organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian resources. More information is available at affiliations.si.edu.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina – its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.
The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the N.C. Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit www.dncr.nc.gov.
