HirshhornMuseumandSculptureGardenNewYorkGala

Nov. 7, 2017

Hirshhorn Honors 32 of Today’s Most Influential Women Artists at New York Gala
Monday, Nov. 6, 2017 | Lincoln Center, New York

On Monday, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden celebrated a year of milestone achievements with a festive gala attended by a diverse group of artists and prominent art world influencers from around the globe, including many of today’s most important curators, thought leaders, gallerists and patrons of the arts, at Lincoln Center in New York City. The evening raised $1.24 million to support the museum’s programming and exhibitions.

Hosted by Secretary of the Smithsonian Dr. David Skorton, Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu and Hirshhorn Board Chair Daniel Sallick, the gala honored 32 international women artists who have transformed public perceptions of contemporary art and expanded critical dialogue around the most important cultural issues of our time. The evening began with an elegant cocktail reception and a special live performance by acclaimed choreographer and dancer Danielle Polanco. Afterward, a 400-person dinner was set against one of the city’s most cherished cultural centers, the historic Josie Robertson Plaza.

To mark the occasion, the museum also released a special video message from Honorary Chair Yayoi Kusama, as well as short remarks from many of the honorees, discussing their work and practice.

“We are delighted to recognize the outstanding contributions to our field by this group of powerful women artists,” said Hirshhorn Director Melissa Chiu. “Individually, each of these women have pioneered new theories and ideas about art-making, and together, they are an unstoppable force who have and will continue to change the ways in which we interpret and engage with contemporary art. It is an honor to have so many of them in attendance this evening, and I look forward to welcoming them as a part of the Hirshhorn family for years to come.”

To download a selection of social images from BFA, please click here.

SPECIAL GUESTS IN ATTENDANCE:

GALA VICE CHAIRS: Bank of America, Sandra and Howard Hoffen, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara, Jakarta-Indonesia, John and Mary Pappajohn and Juliana Curran Terian.

ARTIST HONOREES: Nairy Baghramian, Njideka Akunyili Crosby, Tacita Dean, Tracey Emin, Rachel Feinstein, Isa Genzken, Katharina Grosse, Guerrilla Girls, Mary Heilmann, Jenny Holzer, Shirazeh HoushiaryAi Jing, Bharti Kher, Barbara Kruger, Yayaoi Kusama, Tala Madani, Meredith Monk, Mariko Mori, Wangechi Mutu, Yoko Ono, Susan Rothenberg, Michal Rovner, Dana Schutz, Taryn Simon, Lorna Simpson, Kiki Smith, Pat Steir, Sarah Sze, Mickalene Thomas, Tatiana Trouvé, Mary Weatherford and Haegue Yang.

ARTISTS, GALLERISTS, MUSEUM and ART WORLD LEADERS:  Thorsten Albertz, Albertz Benda Gallery; Carol Alt, supermodel, actress, entrepreneur; Veronique Ansorge, David Zwirner Gallery; Joe Baptista, Pace Gallery; Judith Barry, artist; Sascha Bauer, SculptureCenter; Christopher Bedford, Baltimore Museum of Art; Jonah Bokaer, choreographer; Monique and Max Burger, collectors; Tanya Bonakdar, Tanya Bonakdar Gallery; Mary Boone, Mary Boone Gallery;  Suzanne Deal Booth, art advisor; Barbara Corti, Hauser & Wirth; Donna De Salvo, Museum of Modern Art; Phil Donahue, media personality; Paul de Froment, Almine Rech Gallery; Felipe Dmab, Mendes Wood DM; Isabel Ernst, de la Cruz Gallery; Sara Friedlander, Christie’s; Theaster Gates, artist; Ben Genocchio, The Armory Show; Milly and Arne Glimcher, Pace Gallery; Marian Goodman, Marian Goodman Gallery; Agnes Gund, patron and collector; Laura Hoptman, Museum of Modern Art; David Kordansky, David Kordansky Gallery; Tina Kim, Tina Kim Gallery; Hyun-Sook Lee, Kukje Gallery; Nicholas and Alex Logsdail, Lisson Gallery; Julie Mehretu, artist; Jake Paltrow, film director, screenwriter and actor; Lisa Phillips, New Museum; Sam Orlofsky, Gagosian; Almine Rech and Paul de Froment, Almine Rech Gallery; Olivier Reza, House of Alexandre Reza; Mera and Don Rubell, collectors; Hanna Schouwink, David Zwirner Gallery; Dr. David Skorton, Secretary of the Smithsonian, Jacqueline Sischy, Hauser & Wirth; Marlo Thomas, actress; Lee Ufan, artist; Danh Vo, artist; Lawrence Weiner, artist; Glenn Scott Wright, Victoria Miro Gallery.

About the Hirshhorn

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden is the national museum of modern and contemporary art and a leading voice for 21st-century art and culture. Part of the Smithsonian, the Hirshhorn is located prominently on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Its holdings encompass one of the most important collections of postwar American and European art in the world. The Hirshhorn presents diverse exhibitions and offers an array of public programs on the art of our time—free to all, 364 days a year. For more information, visit hirshhorn.si.edu.

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Image: Taryn Simon, Lorna Simpson, Melissa Chiu, Mickalene Thomas, Njideka Akunyili Crosby. Photo courtesy Zach Hilty/ BFA.com