See Inside This Year’s Bright Blue Public Art Fund Party

Blue hues covered everything from the menus to decorative textiles to pingpong tabletops.Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art FundNEW YORK—This year's Public Art Fund Party, which took place April 9 at the Metropolitan Pavilion in New York, celebrated the organization’s upcoming outdoor exhibition season. As Public Art Fund's largest fundraiser of the year, the event supports its mission of presenting contemporary artworks throughout the city for free.

The 2025 event brought together NYC leaders, philanthropists, and tastemakers from the contemporary art scene. Guests sipped on cocktails from Diageo brands Ketel One, Zacapa Rum, Tanqueray, Don Julio, and Johnnie Walker; beer by Heineken; and nonalcoholic spirits by Ghia.

The fundraiser featured pingpong tables with artist-designed paddles by Carlos H. Matos, Ilana Harris-Babou, Las Hermanas Iglesias, Moko Fukuyama, and Amalia Pica; an Artsy-hosted silent auction with works by 41 contemporary artists; and a 360-person seated dinner by Canard Inc. It was all followed by an after-party that welcomed an additional 316 guests. 

Artist Paul Anthony Smith offered creative direction in collaboration with event production company Fremont Blue Events. The event design and decor were based on his painting “Grey Area (Dream Book).” The artwork was displayed on the menus, and its colors inspired many of the event elements, explained Stephanie Adams, deputy director of external affairs for Public Art Fund.

Blue hues covered everything from the menus to decorative textiles to pingpong tabletops; Smith’s work layers the silhouette of a palm tree over a rich blue background filled with subtle figures. This summer, Public Art Fund will exhibit his works across JCDecaux bus shelters in NYC, Chicago, and Boston in an exhibition titled “Melodies from a running spring.”

Artist Carmen Winant’s immersive portrait experience allowed guests to incorporate their party pics into a growing wall collage that transformed throughout the evening. The after-party featured DJ sets from MeLo-X and Juliana Huxtable and specialty ice cream bars by August Novelties from chef and co-founder of Ghetto Gastro Malcolm Livingston II. Guests took home umbrellas (provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies), which featured a reproduction of Sabine Hornig's artwork that’s on view at LaGuardia Airport. 

Over $1.1 million was raised this year in support of Public Art Fund’s mission. 

Keep scrolling to see key vendors and more from Public Art Fund’s 2025 Party... 

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