YoungArts’ Playfully Glamorous Gala Returns to the Met’s Iconic Temple of Dendur

A host of cultural luminaries, including choreographers, curators and artists, came together to raise more than $1.2 million for the organization.

Desmond Richardson, Pamela Tatge and Bill T. Jones Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

It’s a sure sign spring has sprung when cultural, creative and philanthropic luminaries from New York and beyond descend upon the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of Dendur to raise funds for the annual YoungArts gala. This year’s emcee was actress Katerina McCrimmon, widely lauded for her turn as Fanny Brice in the national tour of Funny Girl (Entertainment Weekly called her “the next greatest star”), and the evening was flawlessly executed once again by Raúl Àvila, the designer behind both the Met Gala and the Academy Awards. For this edition, Àvila drew inspiration from photographer Jordan Tiberio’s atmospheric images and floral motifs, imbuing the night with an elegant, playful vibe.

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As always, Monday’s guest list read like a Who’s Who from the worlds of arts and philanthropy. This year’s honorary chairs included dancer Misty Copeland, painter and filmmaker Titus Kaphar and Agnes Gund, who needs no introduction. They were joined by gala co-chairs Sarah Arison, Thomas Willhelm, Gillian Hearst, Michi Jigarjian, Sandra Tamer and Tony Tamer, who welcomed more than 250 attendees to what began as an elegant cocktail reception and quickly morphed into a celebration of talent that spanned dance, poetry, music and song, ultimately raising over $1.2 million in support of YoungArts’ mission.

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Under the direction of Gossip Girl’s Zuzanna Szadkowski, past YoungArts winners shared their talents: Sydney Burtis brought tap to the stage, jazz pianist Isaac Harlan played and actress Liisi LaFontaine sang, among others.

Notable attendees included the legendary Mikhail Baryshnikov, choreographer and director Bill T. Jones, curators Jasmine Wahi and Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, actresses Katerina McCrimmon and Nicole Ari Parker and a host of visual artists, including Sarah Sze, Taryn Simon, Derek Fordjour, Camille Henrot, Glenn Ligon, KAWS, the Haas brothers and Kennedy Yanko. Also spotted in the crowd were MoMA PS1 director Connie Butler, MoMA director Christophe Cherix, MASS MoCA director Kristy Edmunds, The Studio Museum in Harlem director Thelma Golden, CEO of the Aspen Art Museum Nicola Lees, former MoMA director Glenn Lowry, Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak and many, many more. Suffice it to say, museum leadership was well-represented, as were philanthropists and cultural leaders, including Komal Shah, Jody Arnhold, Paul Arnhold, Wes Gordon, Ed Bass and Sasha Bass, Allison Berg, Marie-Josée Kravis, Dasha Zhukova Niarchos and Stavros Niarchos, Debi Wisch and Clara Wu Tsai.

Misty Copeland, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart

Misty Copeland, Mikhail Baryshnikov and Lisa Rinehart. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Sarah Arison and Gillian Hearst

Sarah Arison and Gillian Hearst. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Camille Henrot

Camille Henrot. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Glenn Ligon, Thelma Golden and Scott Rothkopf

Glenn Ligon, Thelma Golden and Scott Rothkopf. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Titus Kaphar, Rujeko Hockley and Derek Fordjour

Titus Kaphar, Rujeko Hockley and Derek Fordjour. Deonté Lee/BFA.com

Jasmine Wahi

Jasmine Wahi. Deonté Lee/BFA.com

Folake Ologunja, Debi Wisch, Dee Dee Sides, Misty Copeland and Angela Goding

Folake Ologunja, Debi Wisch, Dee Dee Sides, Misty Copeland and Angela Goding. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Sydney Burtis

Sydney Burtis. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Shelley Fox Aarons and Phil Aarons

Shelley Fox Aarons and Phil Aarons. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Danni Pascuma and David Thomson

Danni Pascuma and David Thomson. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Bjorn Amelan, Kim Cullen and Slobodan Randjelovic

Bjorn Amelan, Kim Cullen and Slobodan Randjelovic. Deonté Lee/BFA.com

Julia Chiang, KAWS, Nicola Lees, Rachel Rees, Camille Henrot and Sarah Arison

Julia Chiang, KAWS, Nicola Lees, Rachel Rees, Camille Henrot and Sarah Arison. Deonté Lee/BFA.com

Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, Dee Dee Sides and Katherine Bishop

Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, Dee Dee Sides and Katherine Bishop. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Zoe Buckman and Legacy Russell

Zoe Buckman and Legacy Russell. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Sarah Arison, Graham Steele, Jennifer Koh and Lisa Leone

Sarah Arison, Graham Steele, Jennifer Koh and Lisa Leone. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Thelma Golden and Connie Butler

Thelma Golden and Connie Butler. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Chloe Berkowitz, Clive Chang and Lily Herzan

Chloe Berkowitz, Clive Chang and Lily Herzan. Deonté Lee/BFA.com

Nicole Fleetwood and Peter Kunhardt Jr.

Nicole Fleetwood and Peter Kunhardt Jr. Deonté Lee/BFA.com

Nicole Ari Parker and Boris Kodjoe

Nicole Ari Parker and Boris Kodjoe. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Lee Quiñones

Lee Quiñones. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Michi Jigarjian and Zoe Buckman

Michi Jigarjian and Zoe Buckman. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Simona Vassilev and Ted Vassilev

Simona Vassilev and Ted Vassilev. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Katherine Bishop, Glenn D. Lowry and Anne Pasternak

Katherine Bishop, Glenn D. Lowry and Anne Pasternak. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

Tim Ingrassia and Stephanie Ingrassia

Tim Ingrassia and Stephanie Ingrassia. Matteo Prandoni/BFA.com

YoungArts’ Playfully Glamorous Gala Returns to the Met’s Iconic Temple of Dendur