On Monday evening, Dia Art Foundation brought together a formidable crowd for its annual Fall Night gala, honoring artists Roni Horn and Steve McQueen. With support from Chanel, the celebration was co-chaired by Chanel artistic director Matthieu Blazy alongside artists Carrie Mae Weems and Rosemarie Trockel.
More than 400 creatives, curators, philanthropists, and more gathered to celebrate Dia and the maison’s shared commitment to honoring artists’ creative visions, with all proceeds from the gala supporting Dia’s long-term planning. Unfolding across two Chelsea spaces, guests began the evening with an exhibition viewing at Dia Chelsea before heading a few blocks uptown for cocktails, a candlelight autumnal dinner, and heartfelt tributes.
The Occasion: Dia’s Fall Night gala honored Horn and McQueen, whose distinct practices have left lasting marks on contemporary art and film. The evening also supported the foundation’s extensive programming—including artist commissions, lectures, long-term exhibitions, and free admission to its New York locations—as well as the restoration of some of its gallery spaces. The night doubled as a send-off for Jessica Morgan, Dia’s director of nearly 12 years, who will begin a new role as director of Tate in London on Jan. 1. In her remarks, Morgan noted that Dia’s next—as yet unnamed—director will inherit a much sturdier suite of buildings and stronger finances than she did. “It’s been an absolute joy,” she said. “I’m going to be looking very carefully to see what’s going on, so don’t mess it up.”
The Crowd: Alongside the night’s co-chairs and honorees, Dia and Chanel welcomed visionaries from across creative industries, including filmmaker Sofia Coppola; producer Darren Star; actors Marion Cotillard, Julio Torres, and Stephanie March; writer Candace Bushnell; artists Marina Abramović, Sheree Hovsepian, Matthew Barney, Cecily Brown, Camille Henrot, Carrie Mae Weems, Rosemarie Trockel, Glenn Ligon, Tauba Auerbach, and Howardena Pindell; and arts leaders Connie Butler and Thelma Golden.
The Entertainment: As guests enjoyed fig salad and short ribs, the evening turned to a pair of tributes: Barney took the floor to pay homage to Horn, remarking on her keen wit and intelligence as a photographer and sculptor, while Grammy-winning musician and poet Meshell Ndegeocello offered a tribute to McQueen in the form of a roving musical performance.
The Appetizer: To open the night, art lovers were given a private, after-hours viewing of the Dia Chelsea exhibition “David Lamelas: The Machine,” the Argentine artist’s first major solo presentation in New York. The survey spans photographs, installations, and films from across his career, along with a musical piece by composer Gavin Gamboa and Situación de tiempo II (Situation of Time II), 2025, a darkened room of 17 television sets commissioned specifically for the exhibition.
Cause for FOMO: As a parting gift, guests received treats for the eyes and the nose: a hardcover book from a recent Dia exhibition and bottles of Chanel’s Fragrance Primer and Eau de Parfum.
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