Met security guard gets art showcased after chance encounter

UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) -- It may just be the dream of practically every artist on Earth.

That dream is to have his or her work exhibited at one of the world’s greatest museums: the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

That dream came true for a man who works as a security guard at the Met.

"It is magical, surreal,” said Armia Khalil, who has been a security guard at the Met for 12 years. “Sometimes I have to pinch myself to realize it’s true. It’s happening."

Talk about being at the right place at the right time. The 45-year-old security officer had a chance, five-minute encounter with a museum visitor who was looking for the painting "Flight into Egypt."

Khalil knew the painting well. But what he didn’t know was the man he was talking to was the curator of the upcoming exhibit called "Flight into Egypt: Black Artists and Ancient Egypt, 1876–Now."

“In just 15 seconds I told him, 'By the way, I am Egyptian and an artist,'" Khalil said. “He didn’t look at the painting. He looked at me. He paid full attention."

The security guard showed the curator his Instagram account of his artwork. Khalil studied art in his native Egypt, particularly sculptures inspired by ancient Egyptian art.

In his studio in Bayonne, New Jersey, working nights and weekends, Khalil created the sculpture "Hope, I am a Morning Scarab."

“He tells us not to give up hope,” said Loaela Hammond, a museum visitor. “You’re supposed to keep hoping. I’ll tell you what, it’s been a stressful time so thank you."

Museum visitors can read in the description of the sculpture that Khalil is a museum security officer. Many shook his hand and posed for pictures with the new celebrity security guard.

PIX11 News asked Khalil, "What’s next for you?" He replied, “I honestly don’t know. I’m very grateful.”

Museum visitors are as grateful.

“He was saying he’s so grateful for the opportunity to show his work at the Met, which is understandable, but as the public, we are grateful to artists who make such wonderful work, so it goes both ways,” said Arlyn Miller, a museum visitor.

The sculpture "Hope, I am a Morning Scarab" and the entire exhibit "Flight Into Egypt" will be at the Met through Feb. 17.