Under The Oculus and Inside Last Night's Guggenheim Gala Honoring Carrie Mae Weems

Under soft, blue light and the sweeping rotunda of the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed museum, guests gathered for the Guggenheim’s 2024 gala. A symphony of artistry and live acts, the benefit honored the work of Carrie Mae Weems and philanthropists Jack and Susy Wadsworth, instrumental figures in furthering the museum’s impactful footprint in the art ecosystem.

The event was attended by a range of industry luminaries such as Marianne Boesky and RoseLee Goldberg (who recently celebrated the kindred Performa gala), as well as artists including Rashid Johnson, Sanford Biggers, Mickalene Thomas, and Alteronce Gumby.

To open the evening, the museum’s latest exhibition, Harmony and Dissonance: Orphism in Paris, was open to exploration. With the lead sponsor of Alaïa, who utilized the museum for their SS25 presentation, the show examines the abstract art movement “Orphism” at the height of its power. In the early 20th century, the movement springboarded from Paris into a global scene of kaleidoscopic compositions experimenting with color, form, and motion.

The night progressed with a festive cocktail reception at the museum’s Café Rebay, which featured the tracks of DJ Mei Kwok, a familiar talent on the gala circuit’s roster of best-in-class entertainment. The gathered company was also treated to the melodies of the musician Esabulu, who carried guests through the seated dinner with her unmistakable sound. To conclude this portion of the event, critically acclaimed Amber Mark signed off with a performance of her own.

The evening raised $2.3 million in support of the Guggenheim Foundation, which supports the museum’s global network of ongoing exhibition programming, education programs, research initiatives, and publications.