PHOTO: Inside the Ski-Inspired Art Production Fund's 2026 Après Gala

Huma Abedin, Nicky Hilton, Stacey Bendet, Jenny Mollen and Carolyn Tate Angel. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com

The Art Production Fund has thrown some memorable themed parties, but its 15th annual gala — an après-ski fantasy staged in the Seagram Building — may have been its most dedicated. Under cool blue lighting, fur-clad glitterati in trailing gowns and winter whites caught scrapes from servers in Moncler puffers, tossed back Absolut Tabasco from a shotski and watched artist Amanda Ross-Ho (a former competitive figure skater) finds her edge on simulated ice in her long-term work Untitled Figure (Repeat).

There was a line in Kelly WallS ‘ Depressing thinking custom penny press for most of the cocktail hour, making it a prime spot for people watching. Among the more than 300 guests, the Observer singled out former Clinton aide and author Huma AbedinFashion CEO Stacey Bendetthe main society and the designer Nicky Hiltonangel investor and influencer Hannah Bronfmanarchitect Kulapat Yantrasastentrepreneurs Rachel Blumenthal AND Neil Blumenthalart collector Christine Mackfamous doctor Jake German and designers Cynthia Rowley, Sergio Hudson AND Anna Sui. On-site artists included co-headliners Derrick Adams AND Sanford Biggers, Mickalene Thomas, Will Cotton, Marilyn Minter, Michael Chuapoco AND Ludovik Nkoth.

Upstairs at dinner, VIPs drawn from media, fashion, finance, philanthropy and the arts made their way through the ski-car styled venue to their tables, where they sat down to an Alpine-inspired menu created by AUTHOR Sarah Hoover: fondue, truffle pizza and chicken schnitzel paired with lemon-spiked martinis and hot chocolate kept the après-ski illusion alive. The Art Production Fund raised a record $1M+ that night, thanks in part to a spirited art advisor-led paddle raise Gabriela Palmieri. From there, the night’s speakers wrapped up the talk with another round of ski shots before appropriately themed DJ duo Polar Bears took to the decks to spin classic anthems from the early years.

It was Aspen from Park Avenue until the clock struck midnight. The Observer heard rumblings of an après-après party that may or may not have included the influencer Tinxgallerist Hannah Traorewriter Amanda Lee BurkettILLUSTRATION Angelica Hicksheiress Ivy Getty and author Chloe Wiseamong others, but before we could confirm, the lights came on and people were packing their parkas.