Just a few days into Aspen ArtWeek, the Colorado city has been bustling with parties and gallery openings as its art community gears up for the Aspen Art Museum’s annual ArtCrush benefit auction and gala. On schedules packed with celebrations, art collectors and aesthetes alike made sure to mark Cultured’s gathering last night in red ink. In the early evening of August 3, invitees gathered at Sotheby’s Aspen gallery for the spirited cocktail party to kick off the opening of its current group show, “Venice in Aspen.” Though the event was held at Sotheby’s freshly minted Aspen location—having opened only a month ago yet already on its third show—the gallery has been buzzing with activity since its debut. In partnership with Cultured last night, a diverse and lively group of locals and out-of-towners mingled in its exhibition spaces.
Set to the soundtrack of music provided by local favorite DJ Naka G, guests including Carla Camacho, Sterling McDavid, Jamie Tisch, Alex Israel, Allison and Warren Kanders, Sarah Arison, Liza Mauck, Chandra and Jimmie Johnson, Katherine Bernhardt, Ashley Wein, Amy Roldan and Michelle and Jason Rubell viewed the artwork on display and caught up with each other inside the auction house’s new gallery. Trays of cocktails and hors d’oeuvres provided by the Caribou Club weaved through the space and attendees enjoyed an assortment of bites including mini Maine lobster rolls, tuna sashimi, oysters on the half shell and vegan spring rolls paired with crisp glasses of champagne and white wine or white mezcal negronis.
The “Venice in Aspen” exhibition features work by artists who are simultaneously showing in the current edition of the Venice Biennale. Their pieces in “Venice in Aspen” will be included in the live auction portion of ArtCrush 2022 on August 5, with all proceeds supporting the Aspen Art Museum.
