See Inside the Public Art Fund's Greenhouse-Inspired Fundraiser

The organization's annual spring party brought together New York City patrons to help raise funds and usher in the season of "public art weather."

Michele Laufik

May 17, 2023

The gathering featured overgrown foliage and tabletop arrangements with pops of color, designed by Putnam & Putnam, to help transport guests to a “fantasy greenhouse,” the theme of the night.Photo: Liz LigonNEW 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

The 2023 Public Art Fund Party took place May 2 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York.

Photo: BFA/Brendon Cook

The event raised more than $1.1 million to support the Public Art Fund’s mission of presenting contemporary artworks to the public for free.

Photo: Liz Ligon

The gathering featured overgrown foliage and tabletop arrangements with pops of color, designed by Putnam & Putnam, to help transport guests to a “fantasy greenhouse,” the theme of the night.

Photo: Liz Ligon

An entryway with lush foliage welcomed guests.

Photo: BFA/Brendon Cook

Menu elements echoed the event’s theme with fantastical and botanical elements. Main dishes included grilled mahi-mahi and chili-and-citrus roast pork served with sweet peas and sticky rice, honey-sesame sweet potatoes, and garlic greens. (Pictured: A first course with chili roast pineapple, dragon fruit, jicama, and mango.)

Photo: Liz Ligon

Guests were invited to add their own advice or closing line to an interactive wall as part of Typoe's installation. "The interactive artist projects allow our party attendees to step inside these artists’ great minds and experience their work in a way that is engaging, fun, and awe-inspiring," Freedman said.

Photo: BFA/Brendon Cook

Attendees could take home cards featuring miniature versions of the artist’s banners, which included familiar last lines such as “and the tree was happy” and “I’ll be with you in your dreams wherever you are.”

Photo: Liz Ligon

Multidisciplinary artist Yvette Mayorga created an environment in her signature frosted pink style, where guests could interact with enormous cakes embellished with flowers and other elements.

Photo: BFA/Brendon Cook

Mayorga also designed keepsake plates that guests could take home by selecting a flower from the installation and a corresponding plate.

Photo: Liz Ligon

Cotton candy was spun on floral stems for an added touch of whimsy. “Creativity and artistry is so critical to our mission and how we serve the public; we wanted to make sure that this came through in every aspect of our benefit,” Freedman said.

Photo: BFA/Brendon Cook

Bad Taste by Jen Monroe created a tropical pavlova that featured passion fruit, dragon fruit, and bright berries to serve as a performative dessert piece.

Photo: BFA/Brendon Cook