The Whitney Gala Painted a Clear Picture: Art Is for Everyone

Last night, the museum s annual cornerstone fundraiser, The Whitney Gala, showcased a mix of art and humanity, honoring long-time Whitney supporters Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Brooke Garber Neidich.

Cocktail hour ensued on the eighth floor, which currently features Harold Cohen’s AARON exhibition: the earliest artificial intelligence (AI) program for artmaking. Guests in sparkly dresses and sharp suits sipped on Palomas while mingling about, and the surrounding cutting-edge art-inspired conversation far beyond the rainy weather. As the rain cleared out, guests flocked to the terrace to take in the vast views of the Hudson.

Downstairs, the main lobby had been transformed into a work of art itself, with long tables set with candlesticks and joyful white blooms with big yellow centers. Guests, including artists, curators, and creatives took their seats as a DJ spun remixes to fan favorite golden oldies. Scott Rothkopf, Alice Pratt Brown Director of The Museum, kicked the night off with a laugh stating, “I am delighted to welcome you all to my Bar Mitzvah.”

Opening remarks acknowledged the Museum’s literal roots, sitting atop Lenapehoking, the ancestral homeland of the Lenape; and metaphoric roots, noting the historic barrier to entry to experience art. However, this era of The Whitney looks different; with initiatives in place to ensure accessible art for all. The Museum proudly boasts Spanish translations being implemented throughout the building with hopes to become the first fully large-scale bilingual museum in NYC. Moreover, The Museum has launched its first-ever comprehensive free admission program, Free Friday Nights and Free Second Sundays, to engage a younger, more diverse crowd of art lovers. Folks from all backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses can have their art and see it, too.

Guests were dressed to the nines as they were served a Kaspiano Potato with a heaping of caviar from The Nines. Afterward, a seared halibut adorned with colorful vegetables was enjoyed by all as eye candy first and food second.

The honorees of the night, Brooke Garber Neidich and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., were celebrated for their relentless work towards championing artists and advocating for broader conversations at the Whitney.

Taking the stage, Gates humbly emphasized the contributions of Thelma Golden toward an equitable art landscape, specifically elevating Black art and artists. He claimed of the work, “Progress, yes, but we all know that more can be done, and more must be done. We are in an ongoing moment of fully embracing these art histories of the past in order to chart a new future in art history and in the history of the Whitney.”

Accepting her honor, an inspired Neidich shared a Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney quote, “The spirit of arts joy reaches us in unexpected ways. It travels on slender threads, but it is within the grasp of all who care enough and want to see and understand.”