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

The annual spring benefit maintained its playful energy with pingpong tables and ice cream bars.

April 22, 2025

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...

VENDORS

Catering: Canard, Inc.
Content Production: SandenWolff, BFA, and Liz Ligon Photography
Event Production: Fremont Blue Events
Venue: Metropolitan Pavilion

This year's spring benefit included a 360-person seated dinner.

This year's spring benefit included a 360-person seated dinner.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

The step-and-repeat photo backdrop featured lush greenery and a moss-covered wall.

The step-and-repeat photo backdrop featured lush greenery and a moss-covered wall.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

The silent auction included a range of paintings, mixed-media works, and sculptures by 41 contemporary artists including Monira Al Qadiri, Huma Bhabha, and Nina Chanel Abney.

The silent auction included a range of paintings, mixed-media works, and sculptures by 41 contemporary artists including Monira Al Qadiri, Huma Bhabha, and Nina Chanel Abney.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

The bar menu featured Rockaway on the Rocks, a version of a prickly pear margarita; Gimme Shelter with coconut rum and lemongrass-ginger syrup; and Park Punch, a nonalcoholic option with Ghia, pineapple gum, and lime.

The bar menu featured Rockaway on the Rocks, a version of a prickly pear margarita; Gimme Shelter with coconut rum and lemongrass-ginger syrup; and Park Punch, a nonalcoholic option with Ghia, pineapple gum, and lime.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

Blue hues covered everything from the menus to decorative textiles to pingpong tabletops.

Blue hues covered everything from the menus to decorative textiles to pingpong tabletops.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

The dinner menu included zucchini tartare and striped bass with lemony sea beans, parsnip puree, celery sauce, white asparagus, peas, red wine onion pearls, paprika oil drops, and edible flowers.

The dinner menu included zucchini tartare and striped bass with lemony sea beans, parsnip puree, celery sauce, white asparagus, peas, red wine onion pearls, paprika oil drops, and edible flowers.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

Artist Paul Anthony Smith's painting “Grey Area (Dream Book)” was displayed on the menus.

Artist Paul Anthony Smith's painting “Grey Area (Dream Book)” was displayed on the menus.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

Mini desserts included doughnut holes, fruit julienne, lemon tart, and pavlova.

Mini desserts included doughnut holes, fruit julienne, lemon tart, and pavlova.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

Guests posed at artist Carmen Winant’s immersive portrait experience.

Guests posed at artist Carmen Winant’s immersive portrait experience.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

The photos were incorporated into a growing wall collage that transformed throughout the evening.

The photos were incorporated into a growing wall collage that transformed throughout the evening.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

Guests could pick their favorite design and heat-transfer it onto a pingpong paddle.

Guests could pick their favorite design and heat-transfer it onto a pingpong paddle.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

The paddle keepsakes featured designs from Carlos H. Matos, Ilana Harris-Babou, Las Hermanas Iglesias, Moko Fukuyama, and Amalia Pica.

The paddle keepsakes featured designs from Carlos H. Matos, Ilana Harris-Babou, Las Hermanas Iglesias, Moko Fukuyama, and Amalia Pica.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

Guests could then play against each other while getting a preview of the forthcoming exhibition, 'Between Tides,' at Rockaway Beach.

Guests could then play against each other while getting a preview of the forthcoming exhibition, "Between Tides," at Rockaway Beach.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

The event brought together Public Art Fund supporters and colleagues including artists, gallerists, curators, and art world luminaries.

The event brought together Public Art Fund supporters and colleagues including artists, gallerists, curators, and art world luminaries.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

August Novelties' Cerulean Sunset ice cream bars were served during the after-party.

August Novelties' Cerulean Sunset ice cream bars were served during the after-party.

Photo: Liz Ligon, courtesy of Public Art Fund

While officially buying the building before the gala was always the goal, event planner Sam Palmer was careful to ensure the gathering would be successful even if the timing didn’t work out. “We had a million different plans, because quite frankly, a million details needed to go right for that to happen,' he said. 'Our leadership and board worked very, very hard to get us across the finish line, and it was a beautiful moment.”

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