On Tuesday night in Midtown, the Museum of Modern Art’s annual Party in the Garden returned in full force, honoring artists Betye Saar and Martin Puryear alongside philanthropist Jo Carole Lauder. Held across the museum and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden, the benefit raised support for the institution’s operations, exhibitions, collection stewardship, and learning and engagement initiatives.
The Scene: Art-world luminaries, collectors, patrons, and cultural leaders filled the museum’s galleries for a festive dinner, before spilling into the garden for the highly anticipated after-hours affair. Against a backdrop of towering sculptures, lush florals, and well-coiffed guests, conversations flowed between generations of artists and the supporters who have helped shape MoMA’s legacy.
The Locale: The festivities unfolded across MoMA’s campus, with dinner taking place inside the museum’s vaunted halls, and the after-party extending into the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Sculpture Garden—resplendent with flashing light displays, greenery, and a whimsical cotton-candy stand tucked near the bar.
The Crowd: Guests included museum leadership Christophe Cherix, Sarah Arison, and Marie-Josée Kravis; artists Derrick Adams, Firelei Báez, KAWS, Anna Deavere Smith, Rashid Johnson, Louise Lawler, An-My Lê, Glenn Ligon, Julie Mehretu, Odili Donald Odita, Sable Elyse Smith, Hank Willis Thomas, Carrie Mae Weems, and Leo Villareal; patrons Michael Bloomberg, Sid Bass, Paula Crown, Cat Gund, David Rockefeller Jr., Susan Rockefeller, and Lizzie Tisch; arts leaders Connie Butler, Thelma Golden, Antwaun Sargent, and Jack Shear; designer Wes Gordon; comedian Chris Rock, and cultural critic Tefi Pessoa.
What You Missed: Following dinner, guests migrated to the museum’s sculpture garden for a lively after-party anchored by back-to-back DJ sets from Tinashe and Rebecca Black—a rare use of the space’s lush setting after dark.
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