PHOTO: Inside the Public Art Fund's spring 2026 benefit

Rachel Park in the installation of the artist Juan Veloz. Deonté Lee/BFA.com

In a busy and duplicative spring gala calendar, the Public Art Fund’s annual benefit has always offered the art world a chance to let loose. Earlier this month, the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year returned to the Metropolitan Pavilion with its trademark dynamism delivered this year by three artists whose work is deeply woven into the Public Art Fund’s 2026 program. Belanger Genesisbuilding on her upcoming exhibition at City Hall Park, designed the atmosphere of the evening, expanding its visual and conceptual signature language in every corner of space. Photographer Juan Velozwhose work anchored the first Public Art Fund exhibition of the year, “On the Other Side,” presented an immersive portrait experience that invited guests inside a nostalgic scene inspired by his grandmother’s living room, a warm yet radical symbol of comfort, protection and generational continuity. AND My name is Olujimione of 19 artists debuting permanent commissions at JFK Terminal 6 this year, brought the spirit of travel to the party with an activity that saw attendees make custom luggage tags.

After a seated dinner by Canard, the silent auction kept patrons driving and collectors competing, with works from Camille Henrot, Eddie Martinez, Karyn Olivier, Gabriel Orozco, Amalia Pizza, Dream Pozanti, Paul Anthony Smith, Hank Willis Thomas AND Carmen Winant on offer – every dollar earmarked to support exhibitions and partnerships that enliven New York’s public spaces. Then, as always, there was another party: the DJ Matthew Mazur AND dances on deck, Diageo cocktails in hand and Emily SigallCustom cookies that make the rounds.

This year’s crowd included artists Charlie Ahearn, Candida Alvarez, Felipe Baeza, Leilah Babirye, Camila Falquez, Moko Fukuyama, Sarah Hughes, Janelle Iglesias, Jane Dixon, Eddie Martinez, Karyn Olivier, Dream Pozanti, Paul Anthony Smith AND Hank Willis Thomasalongside the choristers of art and culture Suhaly Bautista Carolina of the American LGBTQ+ Museum, president of the board of Performa Catherine PeshkopiCEO of Creative Time Jean Cooney AND Natasha Logan of the Harlem Studio Museum. They were also spotted Anna Bloom of karma, Corinna Durland of Kurimanzutto, Anna Fisher by David Kordansky, Sundia Nwadiozor of the White Cube and Mary-Grace Reeder AND Beth Stubb of Hauser & Wirth.

Rounding out the evening’s list was the art collector Karla Shenactor Deborra-Lee Furness (a philanthropic force in its own right), author Tom Two, photographer Sophie Elgort and philanthropists Nancy AND Ziggy Alderman, Desiree Almodovar, Edward Berman, Hannah Rose McNeely, Julie Rudd and prominent patron of the arts Jennifer Soros. And of course, in this digital age one simply cannot forget the various social media tasters in attendance, which this year included Ariel Adkins, Tatiana Gordon, Kira Lokkhmatova, Don’t stop and cute Rosie Peck.