The Metropolitan Museum of Art will merge with the Neue Galerie New York in 2028, creating the Met Ronald S. Lauder Neue Galerie. Founder Ronald S. Lauder, 82, arranged the merger to ensure the museum's survival beyond his tenure, with Lauder and his daughter establishing a $200 million endowment to preserve its unique character and collection.

Lauder will donate 13 Austrian and German paintings from his personal collection to the merged institution, including Klimt's "Die Tänzerin (The Dancer)" and Beckmann's "Galleria Umberto." The most iconic piece, Klimt's "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I" (Woman in Gold), purchased by Lauder for $135 million, will remain at the Neue, which he considers the museum's "Mona Lisa."

The merger represents a significant cultural consolidation, with Met director Max Hollein noting the importance of adding strong Austrian and German art to the Met's collection. The Neue will close for renovations this May before reopening in the fall with a 25th anniversary exhibition, while Café Sabarsky will continue operating, maintaining the institution's distinctive cultural experience.