Performance Space Honors Yoko Ono, Fran Lebowitz More in Artful Spectacle

If you happened to stroll past the courtyard of Performance Space’s East Village hub last night, you’d have caught glimpses of mimes, confetti cannons, and a who’s who of New York’s creative scene gathered for the organization’s annual gala.

“The thesis statement here is that New York City is a space for everyone. I hope guests leave with at least one lifelong, formidable memory from tonight,” said Willie Norris, the evening’s creative director.

This year’s event honored Yoko Ono, Fran Lebowitz, and Whitney Museum curator Adrienne Edwards, with heartfelt tributes from Martin Scorsese, choreographer Ralph Lemon (who accepted on Ono’s behalf), composer-performer Meredith Monk, and even a special commemoration for Bernie Wagenblast—the iconic voice of the MTA.

Among the crowd were cultural heavyweights and emerging talents alike: photographer Nan Goldin, artists Miles Greenberg and Oscar yi Hou, writer Whitney Mallett, Company Gallery’s Ken Castaneda, MoMA PS1’s Jack Radley, and designer Telfar Clemens.

“We don’t know what will happen yet, but we certainly know it’s going to be something special!” theater producer and fashion figure Jordan Roth quipped as the festivities began.

After the Broken Box Mime Theater troupe (silently) guided guests from cocktails into the main event, they were greeted in the dining room by a live rendering of Yoko Ono’s “Snow Piece”—soft snow falling continuously on model Amari Diosa, transforming the space into a dreamlike meditation.

The rest of the evening unfolded in equally artful fashion, hosted by comedian Julio Torres and artist Martine Gutierrez. There were tributes, musical performances by Perla Batalla, Debbie Harry, and Kelsey Lu, and moments of both joy and gravity. Reflecting on Fran Lebowitz’s legacy, Scorsese mused, “It’s difficult to imagine the city without Fran. It’s like trying to picture New York without the Flatiron Building—something fixed, or better yet, iconic.”

Indochine made the short hop from Astor Place to fuel the night with a vibrant menu of salmon crudo, spicy beef salad, Chilean sea bass, and sliced sirloin, passed between tables during the show.

As playful and exuberant as the gala was, the afterparty down the hall carried the momentum well into the night—a heady mix of DJ sets, pulsing lights, and a dance floor packed with the city’s avant-garde. In a metropolis where creative legacies are constantly rewritten, the evening served as a reminder: the experimental spirit is alive, thriving, and still knows how to throw a damn good party.