See the Fun, Playful Elements From Public Art Fund’s 2024 Party

The organization's annual event celebrated its upcoming exhibition season with artist-designed activations and whimsical drinks and desserts.

Michele Laufik

May 20, 2024

Guests enjoyed colorblocked Jello cubes in piña colada, margarita, pineapple daiquiri, mai tai, and a nonalcoholic watermelon margarita flavor.Photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.comNEW YORK—Public Art Fund’s 2024 Party, which took place May 15 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York, celebrated its upcoming outdoor exhibition season. As its largest fundraiser of the year, the event supports the organization’s mission of presenting contemporary artworks to the public for free.

“Our exhibitions connect people—in city parks, in bus shelters, and around the city streets. On the night of the party, we brought that same spirit indoors for our guests in order to highlight the importance, energy, and festivity of these collaborative spaces,” explained Stephanie Adams, deputy director of external affairs for Public Art Fund.

Exhibiting artists Clifford Prince King, Edra Soto, and Adrienne Elise Tarver each created interactive artist projects for the event—giving attendees a taste of the Public Art Fund experience.

King designed an immersive portrait studio, allowing guests to step inside a photograph and take home the image as a souvenir of the evening, while Soto created a silk-screen design inspired by the sculpture she will bring to Central Park’s Doris C. Freedman Plaza this fall. Guests were able to silk-screen their own tote bags with this custom design.

And Tarver’s painting “Dark Star” inspired the decor for the party, immersing attendees in vibrant sunset hues. The painting was also featured as part of the tropical dinner tablescape on the menus; it will be on view in Tarver’s upcoming Public Art Fund exhibition, “She Who Sits.”

Following a 350-person seated dinner by Canard, the after-party featured music by DJ KITTYSAYWORD; interactive desserts including colorblocked boozy Jello cubes; and a mini-print vending machine by Ana Inciardi, a Portland, Maine-based printmaker. After inserting quarters into the machine, guests were surprised with custom prints including a Public Art Fund-branded New York taxi, a bus shelter, and other whimsical designs. Guests could also take home a Yinka Shonibare-designed umbrella (provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies), "so that they can enjoy public art exhibitions outdoors whatever the weather," Adams said.

An additional 175 guests attended the after-party. There was also a silent auction, which was accessible online via Artsy, with 37 donated works of art, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, and prints.

VENDORS
Catering: Canard
Entertainment: KITTYSAYWORD
Event Production: Fremont Blue Events
Venue: Metropolitan Pavilion
Video: SandenWolff

Keep scrolling to see more from inside the 2024 Public Art Fund Party...

Public Art Fund’s 2024 Party, which took place May 15 at the Metropolitan Pavilion, celebrated its upcoming outdoor exhibition season.

Photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

Specialty cocktails were named after exhibition sites throughout the city, such as The Brooklyn Bridge Park, The City Hall Park, and The Doris @ Central Park. Guests also sipped on cocktails from Diageo brands, beer from Other Half Brewing Company, and wine from Freixenet Mionetto.

Photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

Guests enjoyed colorblocked Jello cubes in piña colada, margarita, pineapple daiquiri, mai tai, and a nonalcoholic watermelon margarita flavor.

Photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

Adrienne Elise Tarver's painting “Dark Star” inspired the decor for the party, immersing attendees in vibrant sunset hues. The painting was also featured as part of the tropical dinner tablescape.

Photo: Max Lakner/BFA.com

The "Pillow Salad" included puffed bread, pea tendrils, fennel “dirt,” watermelon radish, cucumber, tomatoes, endive, whipped sheep’s milk ricotta, balsamic pearls, and a limoncello vinaigrette.

Photo: Max Lakner/BFA.com

The bite-size desserts included matcha crepe cake, Mallomars, a mixed berry Pop-Tart, Pop Rock truffles, and Mexican hot cocoa with a churro doughnut hole.

Photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

The after-party included a mini-print vending machine by Ana Inciardi, a Portland, Maine-based printmaker. After inserting quarters into the machine, guests were surprised with custom prints including a Public Art Fund-branded New York taxi, a bus shelter, and other whimsical designs.

Photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

Exhibiting artists Clifford Prince King, Edra Soto, and Adrienne Elise Tarver each created interactive artist projects for the event—giving attendees a taste of the Public Art Fund experience.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund, NY

King designed an immersive portrait studio, allowing guests to step inside a photograph and take the image as a souvenir of the evening.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund, NY

Soto created a silk-screen design inspired by the sculpture she will bring to Central Park’s Doris C. Freedman Plaza this fall. Guests were able to silk-screen their own tote bags with this custom design.

Photo: Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

The silent auction, which was accessible online via Artsy, featured 37 donated works of art, including paintings, photographs, sculptures, and prints.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund, NY