Honorary Chairs Misty Copeland, Agnes Gund, and Titus Kaphar
What:
On Monday, April 7, 2025, YoungArts hosted their annual YoungArts New York Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of Dendur, raising more than $1.2M. Sponsored by REZA, YoungArts welcomed more than 250 of New York’s cultural and community leaders, philanthropists, celebrities, artists, and art aficionados.
The annual YoungArts New York Gala was hosted by Honorary Chairs Misty Copeland, Agnes Gund, and Titus Kaphar and Gala Co-Chairs Sarah Arison & Thomas Wilhelm, Gillian Hearst, Michi Jigarjian, and Sandra & Tony Tamer.
Notable Attendees:
| Notable attendees included dancer, choreographer, and actor Mikhail Baryshnikov, American interdisciplinary artist and educator Derek Fordjour, artists Simon & Nikolai Haas, French artist Camille Henrot, choreographer and director Bill T. Jones, artist KAWS, actor, director, producer, and philanthropist Boris Kodjoe, American conceptual artist Glenn Ligon, actress Katerina McCrimmon, American actress and model Nicole Ari Parker, gallerist and curator Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, multidisciplinary artist Taryn Simon, actress Zuzanna Szadkowski, American artist and educator Sarah Sze, curator, educator, and activist Jasmine Wahi, and sculptor and painter Kennedy Yanko. Also in attendance were Director of the Obama Presidential Center Museum Dr. Louise Bernard, MoMA PS1 Director Connie Butler, MoMA Director Christophe Cherix, MASS MoCA Director Kristy Edmunds, The Studio Museum in Harlem Director and Chief Curator Thelma Golden, Whitney Museum of American Art Assistant Curator Rujeko Hockley, CEO and Artistic Director of the Aspen Art Museum Nicola Lees, former MoMA Director Glenn Lowry, Brooklyn Museum Director Anne Pasternak, Whitney Museum of American Art Director Scott Rothkopf, Executive Director and Chief Curator of The Kitchen Legacy Russell and Executive and Artistic Director of Jacob’s Pillow, Pamela Tatge. Notable philanthropists and cultural leaders in attendance included Jody Arnhold, Paul Arnhold & Wes Gordon, Ed & Sasha Bass, Allison Berg, Marie-Josée Kravis, Dasha Zhukova Niarchos & Stavros Niarchos, Komal Shah, Debi Wisch, Clara Wu Tsai. |
More Information:
The celebratory evening was emceed by critically acclaimed actress Katerina McCrimmon (2016 YoungArts Winner in Theater & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts) and featured performances directed by actress and YoungArts trustee Zuzanna Szadkowski (1997 YoungArts Winner in Theater & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts). The evening included performances by Sydney Burtis (2017 Dance), Isaac Harlan (YoungArts Guest Artist), Lucas Kadish (2014 Jazz), Anton Kot (2019, 2020,2021 Jazz), Liisi LaFontaine (2013 Voice), Noah Lee (2017 Classical Music & U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts), Violeta Marie Norrie (2014 Classical Music), Chris Ramirez (2018,2019, 2020, 2021 Jazz) and Devon Yesberger (2009, 2010 Jazz).
Guests were welcomed to an elegant cocktail reception followed by a seated dinner. The evening was designed by Raúl Àvila, designer of The Met Gala and The Academy Awards, drawing inspiration from artwork by Jordan Tiberio, 2011 YoungArts winner in Photography.
“The YoungArts gala is one of my favorite nights of the year—a night where so many artists, philanthropists and leaders in the arts community, across all disciplines, come together to support future generations of exceptional artists.
I am so, so proud of what YoungArts has grown into over the past 43 years, and I’m even more excited by what’s yet to come. YoungArts’ ethos—support designed by artists, for artists—has been the backbone of YoungArts since day one. Artists are the reason YoungArts exists, and the reason that we can be so confident about and thrilled for the future,” said Sarah Arison, Board Chair of YoungArts.
“As an artist and founder NXTHVN, I have a clear understanding of the challenges artists face and the kind of support they need. YoungArts has been a beacon of support—serving not only as a model but as a true collaborator and champion of vision. YoungArts shows us the power of support in unlocking an artist’s full potential, and it’s an honor to stand with them in supporting the next generation of creators,” said Titus Kaphar, Honorary Chair.
“There’s a magic that happens when we listen and allow different movements, sounds, and ideas from various disciplines to come together freely—and that’s exactly what we experienced tonight at the YoungArts New York Gala. It’s the beauty of collaborative expression across disciplines, something YoungArts excels at. The artists, with their incredible talent, came together in a way that made the results palpable, and the impact was deeply meaningful,” said Misty Copeland, Honorary Chair.
Where:
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Temple of Dendur
1000 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10028
When:
Monday, April 7, 2025
Images:
About YoungArts:
YoungArts—the national foundation for the advancement of artists—was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison to identify exceptional young artists, amplify their potential, and invest in their lifelong creative freedom. YoungArts provides space, funding, mentorship, professional development, and community throughout artists’ careers. Entrance into this prestigious organization starts with a highly competitive application for talented artists ages 15–18, or grades 10–12, in the United States that is judged by esteemed discipline-specific panels of artists through a rigorous adjudication process.
For more information, visit youngarts.org, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.
About REZA:
From its Place Vendôme origins to its home on Madison Avenue today, REZA continues its legacy of crafting High Jewelry that celebrates artistry, innovation, and the beauty of the world’s most precious gemstones. Honoring its rich heritage of craftsmanship and unparalleled stone expertise, REZA pushes the boundaries of design to create captivating treasures that transcend occasions for the modern collector.
