Friends of the High Line, the nonprofit conservancy that runs the High Line, celebrated its 2025 Art Dinner on September 18, 2025, offering a wealth of feathered festivities and surprises conceived in collaboration with artist Iván Argote, the visionary behind Dinosaur, the colossal pigeon sculpture situated at the heart of the event.
During the cocktail hour at 6pm, guests—dressed in their avian-inspired finest—flocked around the giant nest decor studded with emblems of New York City at the center of Coach Passage on the High Line, the covered passageway over 30th Street that leads to the Spur. Taking inspiration from New York’s iconic wildlife, event designer Bronson van Wyck of Van Wyck & Van Wyck installed twigs and bird houses throughout the space, creating a party truly for the birds. In conjunction with the nest-inspired decor, Argote conceived of fun pigeon-themed entertainment throughout the event, including large-scale pigeon and wildflower photo stands, Dinosaur postcards and feather pens at every table that could be mailed on site, and some fun surprises.
Remarks were capped off with captivating bird illusions by magician Alexander Boyce, during dinner on the Spur, where tables nested around Dinosaur in a circular formation.
Eagled-eyed guests won original artwork by Argote by finding one of five golden eggs hidden throughout the space. There was also a silent auction for a limited edition of golden, miniature Dinosaur maquettes with a hand-painted backdrop by Argote, as well as an art highlights tour of creative enclave Bentonville, Arkansas. DJ Pony set the musical tone during cocktails, and the Brooklyn-based Latin American-inspired band Chicha Libre performed ambient music throughout the event.
Artists in attendance in addition to Argote included Alvaro Barrington, Lucy Fradkin and Arthur Simms, Dominique Fung, Sheree Hovsepian, Marianna Simnett, and Joel Sternfeld.
Among the other notable guests were Liz Diller, Steve Ells, T. Oliver Reid, and some of the city’s most fashionable art collectors and philanthropists, including Shelley Fox Aarons, Caroline Dean, Kerianne Flynn, Molly Gochman, Annie Hubbard, Wendy Keys, Miyoung Lee, Jennifer Levitt, Christina Lewis Halpern, Anjali Melwani, Komal Shah, Caryn Zucker and many other well-known faces from New York society. Galleries in attendance included Perrotin, James Cohan Gallery, and Paula Cooper Gallery, Kurimanzutto, Hauser & Wirth, Jack Shainman, Massimodecarlo, and Marianne Boesky.
Friends of the High Line Executive Director Alan van Capelle provided remarks at dinner in addition to Cecilia Alemani, the Donald R. Mullen, Jr. Director & Chief Curator of High Line Art, and Donald R. Mullen, Jr., welcoming attendees and sharing insights into the ways the event and their generosity make this free open-air museum in the sky possible. Nearly 100 percent of the High Line’s annual budget is raised by Friends of the High Line, which also operates, maintains, and programs the park, including its gardens and art program featuring an ever-changing roster of sculptures, murals, billboards, films, live performances, and talks.
The Co-Chairs of the event were Hermine R. & David B. Heller Foundation, Amanda and Don Mullen, Mario Palumbo and Stefan Gargiulo, and Susan and David Viniar. The Vice Chairs of the event were Philip Aarons and Shelley Fox Aarons, Ursula M. Burns, Ellen M. Fitzsimmons, and Tishman Speyer.
High Line Board members who attended the event include Board Chair Mario J. Palumbo, Jr.; as well as Philip E. Aarons; Ellen Fitzsimmons; Hermine Riegerl Heller; Catie Marron; Anjali Melwani; Gifford Miller; Rebecca Morse; Donald R. Mullen, Jr.; Ted Oberwager; Delores Rubin; Bronson van Wyck; Darren Walker; Joanne Wilson; and Peter Wilson.
Government officials in attendance included New York State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal; State Assemblymember Deborah Glick; and New York City Council Member Gale Brewer; and Alton Murray, Deputy Commissioner, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs; as well as Jeffrey LeFrancois, Executive Director, Meatpacking District Management Association.
All proceeds from the evening benefit Friends of the High Line, the nonprofit conservancy that develops, maintains, and raises nearly 100 percent of the annual operating budget for the New York City park’s public art, programming, gardens, and maintenance, making it free and open to the public 365 days of the year. In combination with Friends of the High Line’s Spring Benefit, the Art Dinner helps raise 20 percent of the High Line’s annual operating budget.
Friends of the High Line is a nonprofit organization that oversees the public programming, public art, maintenance, and operations for the park in New York City, raising nearly 100% of its annual budget.
Catering was by BITE New York, with designs by Van Wyck & Van Wyck.
