It’s not just a party. Art Party is a celebrated cornerstone of New York’s arts and philanthropy calendar that takes place each year at The Whitney Museum of American Art.
This fundraising event, hosted by the Whitney Contemporaries, invites young patrons, emerging artists, and art enthusiasts for an evening filled with cocktails, music, exhibition viewing, and of course incredible fashion. The proceeds benefit the Whitney’s amazing efforts to champion the voices of emerging artists and the Independent Study Program. Founded in 1968, ISP is one of the country’s leading postgraduate programs in studio art, curatorial studies, and critical studies. The program furthers the Whitney’s mission to support living artists throughout their careers.
The annual party went floral this year with a botanical-inspired theme thanks to the designs of Female-founded boutique creative agency East Olivia and sponsorship of Cynthia Rowley. As partygoers made their way to the main floor, they were transported into a field of florals and nature, both visually and with lovely scents from sponsor Aesop.
Drinks were flowing from two stunningly designed bars serving cocktails by Tequila Casa Dragones and wines from Dry Farm Wines. Even one of the large elevators was turned into a bar with a massive luge concocting the best Tequila espresso martinis, mid-ride. The craft cocktails for the evening were made by Tequila Casa Dragones and signature mocktails were created by artists and co-chairs Natalie Ball and Kambui Olujimi. Guests dined on hors d’oeuvres by Olivier Cheng Catering.
Partygoers were entertained with DJ sets by indie pop duo MGMT and Samantha Urbani. The evening is also a rare chance to take in art with far fewer crowds and get a sneak peek at the new exhibits.
The co-chairs that planned the magical, philanthropic evening were Natalie Ball, Edward Barsamian, Steven Beltrani, Micaela Erlanger, and Kambui Olujimi.
NOTABLE GUESTS
Actors Emily Hampshire, Katherine McNamara, Sally Pressman, Yaritza Reyes; media personalities Sofia Franklyn, Pieper James, Serena Kerrigan, Erin Dana Lichy, Olivia Palermo; models Emira D’Spain, Audrey Hilfiger, Johannes Huebl, Natalie Lim Suarez; designers and stylists Maurice Diallo, Wes Gordon, Marty Harper, Eny Lee Parker, Cynthia Rowley, Nina Tiari; artists Natalie Ball, Peter Burr, Lola Flash, Ashley Longshore, Kambui Olujimi, Salman Toor; DJs Dede Lovelace, The Muses (Jack James Busa and Daniel Walters); influencers Grace Atwood, Griffin Maxwell Brooks, Barbie Brigoni, Victoria Casalino, Olivia Duncan, Olivia Dunnigan, Jules Fox, Christina Grasso, Sarah Hamrick, Kit Keenan, Cassidy Lynn, Brooke Miccio, Luca Mornet, New York Nico, Margo Oshry, Coco Schiffer, Lauren Tiby, Melissa Vale, Caroline Vazzana, Carly Weinstein; photographers Alice Gao, Gabriel Perez Silva, Brandon Woelfel; fitness star Robin Arzón; Museum supporters Paul Arnhold, David Cancel, Claudia Laviada, Fern and Lenard Tessler; supporters of the arts Fred Baba, Samantha Brand, Drew Butler, Roman Chiporukha, Sophie Cohen, Peter Davis, Jonathan Densa, Adam Fields, Jonathan Gardenhire, Leah Glimcher, Josh Glass, Hannah Gottlieb-Graham, Ethan James Green, Alexander Hankin, Danielle Hankin, Jordan Huelskamp, Flora Irving, Sophia Adrianna Kanavos, Nicholas Kanavos, Stephanie Ketty, Casey Kohlberg, Molly Krause, Benoit Lagarde, Suzanna Lee, Alex Marinier, Kevin McIntosh Jr., Brian McKinney, Polina Proshkina, Lilah Ramzi, Theo Ressler, Paula Sanders, Catherine Smith Licari, Elise Taylor, Greer Tessler and Travis Miranda; curators Kim Conaty, Marcela Guerrero, Meg Onli, Laura Phipps, Drew Sawyer, and Scott Rothkopf, the Alice Pratt Brown Director of the Whitney Museum of American Art.
BENEFIT COMMITTEE
Chair: Alexander Hankin
Committee: Fred Baba, Samantha Brand, Drew Butler, Roman Chiporukha, Jonathan Densa, Adam Fields, Leah Glimcher, Danielle Hankin, Flora Irving, Sophia Adrianna Kanavos, Nicholas Kanavos, Casey Kohlberg, Molly Krause, Ashley Longshore, Alex Marinier, Brian McKinney, Polina Proshkina, Lilah Ramzi, Theo Ressler, Sydney Sadick, Paula Sanders, Catherine Smith Licari, Greer Tessler and Travis Miranda, Ben Texter
HOST COMMITTEE
Ephraim Asili, Peter Burr, Jack James Busa (The Muses), CULTURED, Peter Davis, Maurice Diallo, Family Style, Lola Flash, Sofia Franklyn, Alice Gao, Jonathan Gardenhire, Ethan James Green, Marty Harper, Sarah Harrelson, Audrey Hilfiger, Jordan Huelskamp, Kit Keenan, Serena Kerrigan, Stephanie Ketty, Benoit Lagarde, John Leguizamo, Erin Dana Lichy, Mary Manning, Kevin McIntosh Jr., Yaritza Reyes, Rachel Rossin, Elise Taylor, Clarissa Tossin, Devon Walker, Daniel Walters (The Muses)