NEW YORK—The 2023 Public Art Fund Party—the organization’s spring benefit that raises funds in order to present contemporary artworks to the public for free—took place May 2 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York.
The gathering featured overgrown foliage, designed by Putnam & Putnam, helping to transport guests to a “fantasy greenhouse,” the theme of the night.
“We always like to say that spring and summer bring with it ‘public art weather’—many of our exhibitions are outdoors and in green spaces amidst the urban environment, so the season brings with it a renewed energy in public art,” explained Susan K. Freedman, president of Public Art Fund, about the theme. “Our benefit party ushers in this peak season, and Putnam & Putnam worked with us to create a lush, springtime feel that evokes the excitement and beauty of this time of year.”
Produced in house with Jenna Carrens, associate director of development and special events at Public Art Fund, the evening also included cocktails, a silent auction, a 400-person seated dinner catered by BITE, and an after-party, plus two interactive and site-responsive projects by artists Yvette Mayorga and Typoe. Mayorga’s project included sculptures embellished in her signature frosted pink style and personalized cake plate takeaways, while Typoe's installation featured participatory prompts from children’s books.
“Public Art Fund is different from most arts organizations and museums in that we don’t have a dedicated space,” Freedman said. “We believe you should encounter wonderful artworks in the city as part of your daily life, and that everyone should be able to have a meaningful experience with a work of art. Artists are at the heart of what we do and how we serve our community, and we want every attendee to understand the power of supporting this creativity.”
At the after-party, guests also enjoyed a DJ set from Aidan Noell of Nation of Language, a mezcal tasting bar by YOLA Mezcal, and a tropical meringue pavlova and experimental cotton candy from Bad Taste by Jen Monroe.
The silent auction featured over 40 artworks—from photographs to paintings to sculptures—from artists including Ai Weiwei, Farah Al Qasimi, Leilah Babirye, and others.
The event raised more than $1.1 million to support the Public Art Fund’s mission.
Keep scrolling to see key vendors and more from inside the Public Art Fund Party...
VENDORS
Catering: Bad Taste, BITE
Florals: Putnam & Putnam
Graphic Design: Ahoy
Production: SandenWolff
Venue: Metropolitan Pavilion
Videography and Video Production: SandenWolff