The Brooklyn Museum will host its eighth annual Brooklyn Artists Ball, the Museum’s largest annual fundraising event, on April 16. This year’s Ball will honor groundbreaking visual artist Nick Cave and longtime arts funders Bank of America. Taking place during the run of the critically acclaimed exhibition “Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving,” this year’s event will draw inspiration from the life and work of the iconic Mexican artist. Funds from the event support the Brooklyn Museum’s robust exhibitions and programs.
“We are proud to honor artist Nick Cave this year for his tremendous artistic achievements, which address pressing social issues of our time,” says Anne Pasternak, the Shelby White and Leon Levy director of the Brooklyn Museum. “We’re also proud to recognize and honor the efforts of our longtime partner, Bank of America, for their leadership in arts funding and initiatives around the globe to preserve visual culture. We’d especially like to highlight the Women’s Programs, who will be accepting the award on Bank of America’s behalf. De Sisto established the Art Conservation Project, which has funded more than 130 conservation projects in 30 countries—including the restoration of the Assyrian reliefs here at the Brooklyn Museum as well as restoration projects at the Museo Frida Kahlo and Museo Diego Rivera Anahuacalli.”
The Ball will begin at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Museum’s Beaux-Arts Court, followed by a seated dinner and dancing. The iconic Beaux-Arts Court will be transformed by visionary event producer David Stark to pay homage to Frida Kahlo’s Mexico, complete with food stations and artist activations.
Dinner guests will enjoy a unique Mexican-inspired menu produced in collaboration with Great Performances, the Museum’s exclusive food service partner, and special guest chefs Carlos Arellano of Park Slope’s Chela, Justin Bazdarich of Greenpoint’s Oxomoco, Nathalia Mendez of the Bronx’s La Morada, TJ Steele of Gowanus’s Claro, and Chef Sue Torres.
Guests will also enjoy access to “Frida Kahlo: Appearances Can Be Deceiving,” which opened to the public on February 8.
After dinner, the Dance Party guests will enjoy special activations and multisensory installations inspired by Frida Kahlo. Taking place for the first time in the Court, the Dance Party will once again feature DJ sets from Brooklyn Museum trustee and music producer Kasseem “Swizz Beatz” Dean, among other special guests. Full lineup to be announced. Dance Party tickets go on sale to the public March 4.
Artists Ball Chairs include Regina Aldisert and Brooklyn Museum trustees Stephanie Ingrassia, Carla Shen, Colleen Tompkins, and Amanda Waldron. Barbara Vogelstein will serve as Honorary Chairman. Host Committee members include Sarah Arison, Jill Bernstein, Jennifer and Steven Eisenstadt, Alyssa Fanelli, Karen Kiehl and Jeanne Masel, Miyoung Lee and Neil Simpkins, Galerie Lelong & Co., Francis Xavier de Mallmann and Natasha de Mallmann, Alex Mondre, Sabrina Merriman Peterson,Tracey Riese, Jessical Sailer Van Lith, Olivia Song, Anne-Cecilie Speyer and Rob Speyer, Cate La Farge Summers and Phillip Summers, and Ellen Taubman.
The event is supported by Bloomberg, Knoll, Revlon, Bank of America, Jose Cuervo, Bocanegra and Lafayette148.
