PHOTO: Inside the Parrish Art Museum's 2026 Midsummer Gala

Allegra Sky Leguizamo, John Leguizamo, Sanford Biggers and Arana Hankin-Biggers. Bre Johnson/BFA.com

The Parrish Art Museum’s Midsummer Gala: In the Clouds couldn’t have been more on-topic. After a Saturday of dramatic thunderstorms and a flood watch, 700 guests—many of them in high fashion—arrived at the museum, and what could have been a blast was an absolute blast. The gala raised more than $1.7 million in support of the museum’s exhibits, educational initiatives and outreach programs; honorees included philanthropist Ellen Katz and artists Enoch Perez, Joan Semmel, Hiroshi Sugimoto and in memory, Pat Steier.

The Parrish is a tall, sleek, one-story building on 14 acres of meadow in Millwater. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, it was inspired by the barns of the potato field, which local artists once turned into sun-drenched studios. Its landscape, both wild and beautiful, is home to iconic sculptures such as Roy LichtensteinS ‘ Tokyo Brushstroke I and IIwhich you can walk and recognize from Montauk Highway.

Parrish Executive Director Mónica Ramírez-Montagut, who helped select the honorees and the night’s theme, said this year’s gala stemmed from Sanford BiggersCurrent exhibition. The older ones also helped create the visuals for the gala and the idea of a night in the clouds.

For the older ones, clouds are a recurring motif. Standing under cartoon clouds made of aluminum and acrylic, Unsui (Cloud Forest)He told the Observer, “During the pandemic, I spent most of my time here, and one of my ways to stay calm and connected to the universe was to watch clouds for hours. Wearing a necklace with two silver cloud shadows hanging from it, he added: “When I was asked to do something in Parrish, I thought it would be a great way to consider the landscape and the cloudscape. here.” He hoped people would leave the evening feeling a sense of “inspiration, calm and wonder”.

Guests in colorful attire wandered through the galleries as trustees gathered for a photo in front of a classic Ellsworth Kelly. Co-chairman and trustee of the evening, Charlotte Pilaroin a pale yellow dress, said she was worried about the weather, but the rain had given them an opportunity to show off their art. “We’re just excited that everyone is in and appreciating the art, because that doesn’t always happen… We’re an art museum, right?”

Yanina Fuertes and Charlotte Pilaro. Bre Johnson/BFA.com

Pilaro was joined by her co-chair, Yanina Fuerteswho said most of the night’s fundraising would support ACCESS PARRISH and the museum’s educational and community programs. “Children as young as four and five years old come to museums to appreciate and create art.”

That mission was reflected in two Eastport-South Manor students who appeared as they described their six-month internship at Parrish. “We were steeped in Long Island art and local artists, so it was really nice to connect with where we’re from, as artists, because we’re both very interested in the arts,” said. Julia Gastonean elderly person. “It’s very hard for high school students to get involved with things like this because you have to have connections. Parrish making himself available is such an incredible opportunity.” She added that the museum had contacted their art teacher. “We’re public school students, so you don’t usually get opportunities like that.”

The Dixons played live music against a backdrop of fluffy clouds while Parsons dancers, dressed in white, danced around the room as guests crowded around, Casa Dragones-sponsored Coconut Cloud Margaritas in hand.

Near one of the bars, sheltered by blue-purple hydrangea, the actor John Leguizamo AND gallerist and designer Lisa Perry they looked like old friends. When asked how they knew each other, they laughed. “We don’t. We met five minutes ago.”

Leguizamo, who has a place in Amagansett, spoke of the museum director as a strength. “Having Monica, a Latina, running the whole museum is everything to me,” he said. “It’s such a beautiful hug. It just makes me feel seen and included.” Art, he added, “is always at the forefront of resistance, of speaking truth to power. Protecting artists and giving them space to do what they do and express themselves is very important – that’s where we should put our money and our time.”

Notable artists included Sanford Biggers, Sheree HovsepianGwen O’Neill, Enoch Perez, Ugo Rondinone, Will Ryman AND Nina Yankowitz. Other dignitaries present included Trustee Astrid HillChris and Christina Cuomorestaurateurs Gabi Karan AND Gianpaolo De Feliceassembly member Tommy John SchiavoniMember of the New York State Assembly Rebecca Seawrightphilanthropists Karen and Dennis Mehiel, HH Sheikha Alia Al-Maktoum and the stylist Jonathan Simkhai.

Hadassah Richardson and Kerone Vatel. Bre Johnson/BFA.com

Attendees then moved to the Mildred C. Brinn Terrace, where a marigold dress billowed in a warm breeze. The tables were adorned with powder-blue and white blooms Arthur Golabek Flowers and guests dined on an appetizer of sesame-crusted shrimp. After Katz received the Parrish Philanthropist Award, a short video was shown in which Katz recalled that, at age 14, her grandmother took her to the brand new Guggenheim, where she was amazed by Phillip Gustonthe paintings of She described art as a lifelong refuge and source of beauty, saying that collecting and donating works to museums brought her great happiness because they could be shared with others. “This is the legacy that artists make for us to enjoy and leave for many generations to follow.”

A dinner of corn-crusted steelhead trout gave way to a lively shovel-raise, followed by coconut key lime cake for dessert.

Then the skies opened up with a downpour — the bone-deep kind — and the bare-shouldered women wrapped themselves in blue cloud towels designed by Biggers and donated by sponsor Capital One. The weather was unruly and electric and, after days of dense Canadian fire-smoky air, refreshing.

For a moment, the rain let up, just before the final act of the evening: The Afterglow, a dance party where guests let their hair down to the DJ Jason Fioto. It wasn’t just one night. Mother Nature had given him the sartorial eye.