Huma Abedin, Nicky Hilton, Stacey Bendet, Jenny Mollen and Carolyn Tate Angel. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
The Art Production Fund has thrown some memorable themed parties, but its 15th annual gala—an après-ski fantasia staged at the Seagram Building—may have been its most committed. Under cool blue lighting, fur-clad glitterati in trailing gowns and winter whites nabbed nibbles from servers in Moncler puffers, threw back Absolut Tabasco from a shotski and watched artist Amanda Ross-Ho (a former competitive figure skater) find her edge in her durational work Untitled Figure (Reprise).
There was a line at Kelly Wall’s Wistful Thinking custom penny press for most of the cocktail hour, making it a prime spot for people watching. Among the more than 300 guests, Observer spotted former Clinton aide and author Huma Abedin, fashion CEO Stacey Bendet, society staple and designer Nicky Hilton, angel investor and influencer Hannah Bronfman, architect Kulapat Yantrasast, entrepreneurs Rachel Blumenthal and Neil Blumenthal, art collector Christine Mack, celebrity doctor Jake Deutsch and designers Cynthia Rowley, Sergio Hudson and Anna Sui. The artists on site included co-chairs Derrick Adams and Sanford Biggers, Mickalene Thomas, Will Cotton, Marilyn Minter, Michael Chuapoco and Ludovic Nkoth.
Upstairs at dinner, the assembled VIPs from media, fashion, finance, philanthropy and art found their way via place settings styled as ski passes before sitting down to an alpine-inspired menu designed by author Sarah Hoover: fondue, truffle pizza and chicken schnitzel paired with lemon drop martinis and spiked hot chocolate kept the après-ski illusion alive. The Art Production Fund raised a record-breaking $1 million+ that night, thanks in part to a spirited paddle raise led by art advisor Gabriela Palmieri. From there, the night’s speakers capped off the speechifying with another round of ski shots before the fittingly themed DJ duo the Polar Bears took to the deck to spin classic anthems from the early aughts.
The Polar Bears. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
It was Aspen by way of Park Avenue until the clock struck midnight. Observer heard murmurs of an après-après party that may or may not have involved the influencer Tinx, gallerist Hannah Traore, writer Amanda Lee Burkett, illustrator Angelica Hicks, heiress Ivy Getty and author Chloe Wise, among others, but before we could confirm, the lights went up, and people were packing away their parkas.
Sarah Hoover and Matt Mercer
Sarah Hoover and Matt Mercer. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Kathleen Lynch and Casey Fremont Crowe
Kathleen Lynch and Casey Fremont Crowe. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Ivy Getty
Ivy Getty. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Marilyn Minter and Sanford Biggers
Marilyn Minter and Sanford Biggers. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Yvonne Force Villareal, Will Cotton and Cynthia Rowley
Yvonne Force Villareal, Will Cotton and Cynthia Rowley. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Maneesh Goyal and Rachel Blumenthal
Maneesh Goyal and Rachel Blumenthal. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Tinx
Tinx. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Mickalene Thomas and Latham Thomas
Mickalene Thomas and Latham Thomas. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Honor McGee, Jennifer Fisher and Tina Leung
Honor McGee, Jennifer Fisher and Tina Leung. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Jenny Mollen and Stacey Bendet
Jenny Mollen and Stacey Bendet. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Wisdom Kaye and Samuel Hine
Wisdom Kaye and Samuel Hine. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Danielle Hankin and Sami Deller
Danielle Hankin and Sami Deller. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Bianca Lawson and Hannah Bronfman
Bianca Lawson and Hannah Bronfman. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Kulapat Yantrasast and Yvonne Force Villareal
Kulapat Yantrasast and Yvonne Force Villareal. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Genevieve Roth, Carri Twigg and Nadia Nascimento
Genevieve Roth, Carri Twigg and Nadia Nascimento. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Vanessa Riding, Stephanie Horton and Priya Shukla
Vanessa Riding, Stephanie Horton and Priya Shukla. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Alexander Hankin and Makenzie Phelan
Alexander Hankin and Makenzie Phelan. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Bailey Jane
Bailey Jane. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Federica Parruccini, Jenny Chandler and Adrienne Hahn
Federica Parruccini, Jenny Chandler and Adrienne Hahn. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Christine Mack
Christine Mack. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Henry R. Muñoz III
Henry R. Muñoz III. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Will Cotton and Rose Dergan
Will Cotton and Rose Dergan. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Terrence Charles and Angelica Hicks
Terrence Charles and Angelica Hicks. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Sujin Dolan and Nicole Federico
Sujin Dolan and Nicole Federico. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Neil Blumenthal and Umindi Francis
Neil Blumenthal and Umindi Francis. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Brian Atwood and Jake Deutsch
Brian Atwood and Jake Deutsch. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Nicky Hilton
Nicky Hilton. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Doreen Remen and Yvonne Force Villareal
Doreen Remen and Yvonne Force Villareal. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Rafa Olarra and Derrick Adams
Rafa Olarra and Derrick Adams. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Wisdom Kaye, Samuel Hine, Hannah Traore, Terrence Charles, Quil Lemons and Brooke Wise
Wisdom Kaye, Samuel Hine, Hannah Traore, Terrence Charles, Quil Lemons and Brooke Wise. Kevin Czopek/BFA.com
Chloe Wise, Brooke Wise and Hannah Traore
Chloe Wise, Brooke Wise and Hannah Traore. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Bianca Lawson and Sergio Hudson
Bianca Lawson and Sergio Hudson. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
Sami Deller
Sami Deller. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com
