Time to find some new outfits because fall fundraising season is officially here. For most people in Hollywood movie premieres, music award shows, film award ceremonies, and fashion events are the perfect excuse to search for the perfect dress or tux and get decked out in your finest outfit and go to a major event. In the art world, galas and parties are where the best of the best come in support their favorite art organizations, museums and more.
We know your calendar is already packed, so we’ve compiled a list of our 29 favorite parties and galas you won’t want to miss.
1. American Folk Art Museum Gala, October 2
The annual Fall Benefit Gala provides a primary source of funding for the American Folk Art Museum and its acclaimed educational programs. The museum has a long-standing commitment to arts education and serves more than eight thousand New York City school children each year. This year’s gala will honor Elyse and Lawrence B. Benenson, Raf Simons, Chief Creative Officer of Calvin Klein, and The Wunsch Americana Foundation.
Ziegfeld Ballroom, 141 West 54th Street. Purchase tickets
2. Take Home A Nude Art + Auction Party, October 9
The 27th annual “Take Home A Nude” auction benefiting the New York Academy of Art brings together over 750 guests from the worlds of media, fashion, business and the arts to raise scholarship funds for the Academy’s roster of talented artists. Celebrity art collectors, enthusiasts, artists, and creatives alike will be joining the fun and honor 11 men & women who have inspired great artists, everyone from Jerry Hall (painted by Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol, Lucian Freud and Francesco Clemente) to David Croland (Mapplethorpe’s lover & subject).
Sotheby’s, 1334 York Ave, NYC. Purchase tickets
3. Storm King Art Center Annual Gala, October 9
Storm King Art Center will be taking over the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Plaza on Tuesday, October 18th. Cocktails and dinner will once again be at the Rainbow Room. This year’s gala and live auction will be honoring James H. Ottaway, Jr. and Sarah Sze. There’s even an after party.
Rainbow Room, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, NYC. Purchase tickets
4. SculptureCenter Annual Benefit Gala, October 10
The SculptureCenter’s Annual Benefit Gala will take place Wednesday, October 10 at the Long Island City waterfront event space, Sound River Studios at Anable Basin. The evening will include the reveal of Tom Burr’s new commission Projection Project, a room scaled installation that will surround guests as they celebrate their artist-centric mission. Also exclusive to this year’s gala, longtime friends Tom Burr and Cosima von Bonin’s new collaboration for SculptureCenter’s Limited Edition program will be available for the first time.
Sound River Studios at Anable Basin, 4-40 44th Drive, Long Island City. Purchase tickets
5. Creative Time Gala, October 11
The 2018 Creative Time Gala will honor artist Pedro Reyes and toast to Justine Ludwig, Executive Director of Creative Time. The evening will be designed and produced by Alexandre de Betak, the creative visionary behind Bureau Betak, and will feature live performances, custom cocktails by Maestro Dobel Tequila, followed by an epic late-night party.
99 Scott, Bushwick, Brooklyn. Purchase tickets
6. Rubin Museum Gala & After Party, October 11
This year’s Rubin Museum gala will take place at the museum. Enjoy drinks, dinner, silent auction and artist Matti Braun’s pond installation in A Lost Future.
Rubin Museum of Art 150 West 17th Street, NYC. Purchase tickets
7. Gala in the Garden, October 14
An annual highlight of the Los Angeles cultural calendar, the Hammer Museum’s Gala in the Garden celebrates the artists, innovators, and icons who have made profound contributions to society through their work. Their sixteenth annual Gala in the Garden will be honoring Margaret Atwood and Glenn Ligon.
Hammer Museum, 10899 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA. Purchase tickets
8. Park Avenue Armory Gala, October 16
Each year Park Avenue Armory creates an immersive environment with entertaining artists and imaginative performances. The festivities will kick off at 6:30PM with performances starting at 7PM. The evening will honor Marina Kellen French for her devotion to supporting culture in New York City and Marc Jacob for his uncompromising artistry and spectacular showmanship.
Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, NYC. Purchase tickets
9. Studio Museum Gala, October 18
The Studio Museum will celebrate its 50th Anniversary Gala, a festive celebration among artists, philanthropists, corporate leaders, and cultural luminaries over dinner, music, and dancing. Support for Gala 2018 directly benefits The Studio Museum in Harlem’s critically acclaimed exhibitions, innovative public programs, and renowned Artist-in-Residence program.
Park Avenue Armory, 643 Park Avenue, NYC. Purchase tickets
10. National Design Awards Gala, October 18
The National Design Awards are bestowed each year at a benefit dinner and awards ceremony hosted by Cooper Hewitt. The annual benefit dinner is set for October 18th and to take place on the Arthur Ross terrace and garden at Cooper Hewitt. The evening honors lasting achievement in American design.
Cooper Hewitt, 2 East 91st Street, NYC. Purchase tickets.
11. National Arts Awards, October 22
Americans for the Arts is hosting their National Art Awards ceremony on October 22. Celebrating outstanding leadership in the visual and performing arts, arts education, and philanthropy. The evening will honor Mavis Staples, Ann Ziff, Ai Weiwei and Justin Peck.
Cipriani 42 Street, 110 E 42nd St, NYC. Purchase tickets
12. ICP Spotlights, October 23
The ICP annual benefit luncheon and auction honors women in visual arts working in photography and film. This year, they will celebrate acclaimed artist Mickalene Thomas, who will be in conversation with Prof. Beverly Guy-Sheftall on stage at the event. Support raised through this event benefits ICP’s education and exhibition programs.
583 Park Avenue, NYC. Purchase tickets
13. El Museo del Barrio Presents DIA DE LAS MEMORIAS, October 25
Join El Museo del Barrio as they host Dia de las Memorias fundraiser. This year’s event will feature a Nouveau Mexican menu by celebrity chef Claudia Sandoval, winner of MasterChef Season 6, and drink collaboration with Dobel Tequila and Tajin and an art installation by the Fortoul Brothers.
El Museo del Barrio, 1230 5th Avenue, NYC. Purchase tickets
14. Legends Award Gala, October 25
The Legends Awards is a scholarship benefit supporting Pratt Students and honoring creative icons. Guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, and an awards ceremony. This year will honor Steelcase, artist William T. Williams with a special performance by Margot Bingham.
Weylin, 175 Broadway, Brooklyn. Purchase tickets
15. Halloween Ball with Susanne Bartsch: Cirque de Musée at MoMA PS1, October 27
MoMA PS1 is once again collaborating with New York nightlife legend Susanne Bartsch for the seventh annual Halloween Ball. Featuring performances, DJs, and the most elaborate and outrageous costumes in the city, Cirque de Musée will be a raucous menagerie of wondrous beasts, fantasy revels, and vaudevillian magic.
MoMA PS1, 22-25 Jackson Avenue, Queens, NY. Purchase tickets
16. Performa Gala, November 1
The always much anticipated Performa gala will take place on November 1st and honor Christo & Jeanne-Claude. The evening will of course feature drinks, dinner and spectacular performances. There is also an artist party to follow off-site.
Stage 37, 508 West 37th Street, NYC. Purchase tickets
17. Japan Society Bash + Benefit Auction, November 1
Join the Japan Society in celebrating 111 years on 11.1. The 2018 Bash + Benefit Auction will feature cocktails + hors d’oeuvres, performances by artist Ushio Shinohara + jazz pianist Rina Yamazaki, and live + silent auctions. Proceeds from this event support the Society’s arts + culture programming.
Japan Society, 333 E. 47th St, NYC. Purchase tickets
18. LACMA 2017 Art+Film Gala, November 3
On Saturday, November 3, 2018, notables from the art, film, fashion, and entertainment industries will gather at LACMA for its eighth annual Art+Film Gala honoring influential American photographer Catherine Opie and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. LACMA trustee Eva Chow and actor Leonardo DiCaprio will co-chair the event for the eighth consecutive year.
LACMA, 5905 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. Purchase tickets
19. Dia: Fall Night, November 4
On Sunday, November 4, Dia will celebrate its annual fall gala in New York City. Dia Fall Night begins with cocktails, followed by a seated dinner. Dia Fall Night raises crucial funds for new commissions, public programs, scholarly publications, and educational initiatives.
Dia: Chelsea, 545 W. 22nd St, NYC. Purchase tickets
20. Hirshhorn New York Gala, November 5
The Hirshhorn New York Gala will honor creative couples + duos at their annual benefit. Honorees will include The Haas Brothers, Alex Logsdail + Nicholas Logsdail, Elmgreen & Dragset and Rachel Feinstein + John Currin to name a few.
David Geffen Hall, Lincoln Center, NYC. Purchase tickets
21. MAD Ball, November 6
The Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) will honor luminaries from the worlds of art, fashion, real estate, and design at its most highly anticipated event of the year, the MAD Ball. Honorees exemplify the Museum’s mission to celebrate leadership and the creative process through which materials are crafted into objects and design that enhance contemporary life. Italian fashion house Bottega Veneta, luxury car company Cadillac, artist Nancy Rubins, architect Annabelle Selldorf, and socially-conscious real estate investment firm that supports New York’s artist community Sugar Hill Capital Partners are this year’s honorees.
Cipriani 42nd Street, NYC. Purchase tickets.
22. RxArt Party, November 8
This year’s RxArt Party will honor Rashid Johnson & Neil Blumenthal. There will be a musical performance by Antoine Baldwin and a live auction led by Sara Friedlander of Christie’s. RxArt will be celebrating 18 years of producing powerful projects with extraordinary artists in healthcare facilities nationwide.
432 Park Avenue, NYC. Purchase tickets
23. Swiss Institute Benefit, November 8
The Swiss Institute Benefit will honor Jacque Herzog and Pierre de Meuron and celebrate SI’s inaugural education partner GO Project. You can also expect a live auction led by everyone’s favorite auctioneer, Simon de Pury.
38 St Marks Pl, NYC. Purchase tickets
24. Blade of Grass Gala, November 13
The Blade of Grass annual benefit will honor Rashida Bumbray, Mel Chin and the David Rockefeller Fund for its work furthering the legacy of David Rockefeller.
Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Dr, NYC. Purchase tickets.
25. 2018 GIG Pre-Party, November 14
On November 14, Jorja Smith will transform the iconic spiraling rotunda at the Guggenheim for the GIG Pre-Party. This one-night only-event launches the 2018 Guggenheim International Gala, is once again sponsored by Dior.
Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave, NYC. Purchase tickets
26. Guggenheim International Gala, November 15
A celebration of the Edmond de Rothschild Foundation and visionary philanthropists Dimitris Daskalopoulos and Alice Walton. The Guggenheim International Gala is the museum’s signature annual event, raising significant funds to continue our world-renowned exhibition and education programs.
Guggenheim Museum, 1071 5th Ave, NYC. Purchase tickets
27. ArtWalk NY, November 28
ARTWALK NY brings together hundreds of artists, art-lovers and other compassionate New Yorkers at this landmark event to celebrate the role of “artist-as-activist.” The 24th Annual ARTWALK NY will honor Marina Adams and Stanley Whitney and philanthropic honoree Suzanne Siano.
Spring Studios, 50 Varick St, NYC. Purchase tickets
28. Central Park Conservancy’s Winter Party, December 6
Join the Central Park Conservancy for a night of cocktails, dinner and dancing in a Moroccan Oasis in Central Park. You can even purchase a Young Associates ticket to join the festivities after 9PM.
Mid-Park at 72nd Street, Central Park. Purchase tickets
29. The Whitney Art Party, January 29
The Whitney Museum is throwing their annual Art Party a little later this year on January 29th, 2019. Hosted by the Whitney Contemporaries, the proceeds from the evening benefit the Independent Study Program and other education initiatives of the Whitney.
The Whitney Museum, 99 Gansevoort, NYC. Purchase tickets
Did we miss one? Email us info@artzealous.com
top image // courtesy of the Guggenheim
