PHOTO: Inside the 2026 Gordon Parks Foundation Gala

Mickalene Thomas and John Legend. Getty Images for Gordon Park

The Gordon Parks Foundation has spent two decades arguing that creativity is among the most powerful tools in the fight for social justice, and the organization’s 20th anniversary gala at Cipriani 42nd Street was a testament to that. The electric evening raised a record $3 million, including $1.2 million from a live auction of Parks’ photographs, led by star auctioneer Kimberly Pirtle— to fund scholarships, awards and bursaries that will carry Parks’ ideals into the next generation.

Starting the night, Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr.whose grandfather Philip Kunhardt co-founded the Foundation with Parks, said the photograph “left clear instructions: ‘Take what I’ve started and carry it into the future’… Gordon knew that art is more powerful than violence because it can open our eyes.” He then introduced the co-chairs Alicia Keys AND Swizz Beatz with a portrait of Parks by the artist and 2018 Foundation Fellow Derrick Adams before accepting foundation members 2026: pianist and jazz composer Jason MoranARTISTS Sanford Biggers AND Amanda Williamsand professor Leigh Raiford.

From there, Pharrell Williams and Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times general critic Salamishah Tillet presented the first award of the evening to the EGOT winner, multiplatinum recording artist and producer John Legendwho closed his speech by raising his voice in song. Darren Walkerpresident and chief executive officer of Anonymous Content, presented to the poet, scholar and president of the Mellon Foundation Elizabeth Alexanderwho asserted that “art is a necessary and courageous act. You cannot extinguish its force.” Conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas presented him with an award Chance the Rapperwhile artist, educator and photographer Deanna Lawson respected artist Henry Taylor. Last but not least, sportsman and activist Colin Kaepernick presented the final award of the evening Lonnie Aliwho accepted on behalf of the Muhammad Ali Family.

The gala program was anchored by music. The night opened with Chance The Rapper joining him Anthony Morgan Harlem’s inspirational chorus for “I Was a Rock”—a gospel ballad interspersed with vocals from a 1977 interview in which Ali discussed devoting his post-retirement life to helping others. The dinner was accompanied by a musical interlude by Dave Guytrumpet player for The Roots. Daughter of Gordon Parks Leslie Parks Bailey and musician, arranger and composer Mario Sprouse— the musical director of three of Parks’ films — then introduced Moran, who offered a moving piano tribute to Muhammad Ali.

Overall, the gala offered, as usual, a fitting tribute to a man who used his camera as “a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all kinds of social wrongs.” Chance The Rapper may have said it best when he leaned forward at the dais and declared, “The world is on fire and the greatest protection we have in the art world is as documentaries. Will we be transient, or will we create the future we want? Let’s get dirty.”