John Waters and Jeff Koons Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
After nearly three decades at the helm of the New Museum, former director Lisa Phillips deserved a sendoff worthy of the institution, and in late April, at Cipriani South Street, she got one. At the New Museum’s Spring Gala, following a cocktail hour featuring sets by DJ Stretch Armstrong, former Whitney director Adam Weinberg and artist Maya Lin spoke to Phillips’ singular contributions to the art world, and then the legendary John Waters (yes, that John Waters) led the packed room in a toast. After remarks by artistic director Massimiliano Gioni, auctioneer Phyllis Kao led a lively paddle round—lots included work by Jack Pierson and Billy Sullivan and editions by Rashid Johnson and Cindy Sherman—that helped raise a substantial sum that will go toward supporting the museum’s mission.
Phyllis Kao. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
The guest list read like the syllabus in a master class in contemporary art. Legends Barbara Kruger, Marilyn Minter, Judy Chicago and Joan Jonas shared the room with artists Dana Schutz, John Currin, Mickalene Thomas, Derrick Adams, Hank Willis Thomas, Anne Imhof and Derek Fordjour, among many others. Museum and gallery world heavyweights also—unsurprisingly—turned out in force, from Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak and former Hammer Museum director Ann Philbin to Studio Museum in Harlem director Thelma Golden, curator Cecilia Alemani, gallerists Jeffrey Deitch and Nicola Vassell. Honorary Committee Chair Chloë Sevigny (in a flowered Chloé sheath that matched the blooming tablescapes) presided over a crowd that also included actors John Leguizamo and Matt Dillon, writer and critic Hilton Als, artist and Pioneer Works founder Dustin Yellin, filmmaker Catherine Gund and sundry arts patrons and cultural philanthropists. Gala chairs Charlotte Feng Ford, Shelley Fox Aarons, Mitzi Eisenberg, Patricia Blanchet, Stephanie Horton, Richard Mumby and Jamie Singer Soros kept the evening running with practiced ease.
Debbie Harry. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
The night closed with an energetic performance by OG punk rock goddess Deborah Harry, which felt particularly fitting because the New Museum under Lisa Phillips was never content with the merely good when the genuinely extraordinary was available.
Chloë Sevigny
Chloë Sevigny. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Yvonne Force Villareal, Marilyn Minter and Joel Wachs
Yvonne Force Villareal, Marilyn Minter and Joel Wachs. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Massimiliano Gioni and Cecilia Alemani
Massimiliano Gioni and Cecilia Alemani. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Joan Jonas and Judy Chicago
Joan Jonas and Judy Chicago. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Lisa Phillips and Barbara Kruger
Lisa Phillips and Barbara Kruger.Lisa Phillips and Barbara Kruger. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Jamie Singer Soros and Robert Soros
Jamie Singer Soros and Robert Soros. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Clifford Ross and Catherine Gund
Clifford Ross and Catherine Gund. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Mickalene Thomas and Latham Thomas
Mickalene Thomas and Latham Thomas. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
John Leguizamo
John Leguizamo. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Matt Dillon and Adam Weinberg
Matt Dillon and Adam Weinberg. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Miles Greenberg and Lisa Phillips
Miles Greenberg and Lisa Phillips. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Derek Fordjour and Dustin Yellin
Derek Fordjour and Dustin Yellin. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Devon Teuscher and Anne Imhof
Devon Teuscher and Anne Imhof. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Debbie Rechler
Debbie Rechler. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Hank Willis Thomas, Abigail Ross Goodman and Adam Lewis
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Hank Willis Thomas, Abigail Ross Goodman and Adam Lewis. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Carly Murphy, Noah Horowitz and Bridget Finn
Carly Murphy, Noah Horowitz and Bridget Finn. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Ingrid Gilbert
Ingrid Gilbert. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Michael Chuapoco and Derrick Adams
Michael Chuapoco and Derrick Adams. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Noa Wynn and Dana Prussian Haney
Noa Wynn and Dana Prussian Haney. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Vivian Crockett
Vivian Crockett. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Shohei Shigematsu
Shohei Shigematsu. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Salome Asega
Salome Asega. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
John Currin, Lisa Yuskavage, Derek Fordjour and Rashid Johnson
John Currin, Lisa Yuskavage, Derek Fordjour and Rashid Johnson. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Thelma Golden and Lisa Phillips
Thelma Golden and Lisa Phillips. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Jane Smith, Cristina BanBan and Anna Bruder Sharpe
Jane Smith, Cristina BanBan and Anna Bruder Sharpe. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Randi Levine and Jeffery E. Levine
Randi Levine and Jeffery E. Levine. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Cati Vlad and Morgan Aguiar-Lucander
Cati Vlad and Morgan Aguiar-Lucander. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Brooke Garber Neidich and J. K. Brown
Brooke Garber Neidich and J. K. Brown. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
David B. Heller, Talia Mota, Dustin Yellin and Doreen Small
David B. Heller, Talia Mota, Dustin Yellin and Doreen Small. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
Bonita Stewart, Adam Goujjane and Miyoung Lee
Bonita Stewart, Adam Goujjane and Miyoung Lee. Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com
