Huma Abedin, Nicky Hilton, Stacey Bendet, Jenny Mollen and Carolyn Tate Angel. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comThe Art Production Fund has thrown some memorable themed parties, but its 15th annual gala—an après-ski fantasia staged at the Seagram Building—may have been its most committed. Under cool blue lighting, fur-clad glitterati in trailing gowns and winter whites nabbed nibbles from servers in Moncler puffers, threw back Absolut Tabasco from a shotski and watched artist Amanda Ross-Ho (a former competitive figure skater) find her edge on the simulated ice in her durational work Untitled Figure (Reprise).
There was a line at Kelly Wall’s Wistful Thinking custom penny press for most of the cocktail hour, making it a prime spot for people watching. Among the more than 300 guests, Observer spotted former Clinton aide and author Huma Abedin, fashion CEO Stacey Bendet, society staple and designer Nicky Hilton, angel investor and influencer Hannah Bronfman, architect Kulapat Yantrasast, entrepreneurs Rachel Blumenthal and Neil Blumenthal, art collector Christine Mack, celebrity doctor Jake Deutsch and designers Cynthia Rowley, Sergio Hudson and Anna Sui. The artists on site included co-chairs Derrick Adams and Sanford Biggers, Mickalene Thomas, Will Cotton, Marilyn Minter, Michael Chuapoco and Ludovic Nkoth.
Upstairs at dinner, the assembled VIPs from media, fashion, finance, philanthropy and art found their way via place settings styled as ski passes to their tables, where they sat down to an alpine-inspired menu designed by author Sarah Hoover: fondue, truffle pizza and chicken schnitzel paired with lemon drop martinis and spiked hot chocolate kept the après-ski illusion alive. The Art Production Fund raised a record-breaking $1 million+ that night, thanks in part to a spirited paddle raise led by art advisor Gabriela Palmieri. From there, the night’s speakers capped off the speechifying with another round of ski shots before the fittingly themed DJ duo the Polar Bears took to the deck to spin classic anthems from the early aughts.
The Polar Bears. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comIt was Aspen by way of Park Avenue until the clock struck midnight. Observer heard murmurs of an après-après party that may or may not have involved the influencer Tinx, gallerist Hannah Traore, writer Amanda Lee Burkett, illustrator Angelica Hicks, heiress Ivy Getty and author Chloe Wise, among others, but before we could confirm, the lights went up, and people were packing away their parkas.
Sarah Hoover and Matt Mercer
Sarah Hoover and Matt Mercer. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comKathleen Lynch and Casey Fremont Crowe
Kathleen Lynch and Casey Fremont Crowe. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comIvy Getty
Ivy Getty. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comMarilyn Minter and Sanford Biggers
Marilyn Minter and Sanford Biggers. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comYvonne Force Villareal, Will Cotton and Cynthia Rowley
Yvonne Force Villareal, Will Cotton and Cynthia Rowley. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comManeesh Goyal and Rachel Blumenthal
Maneesh Goyal and Rachel Blumenthal. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comTinx
Tinx. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comMickalene Thomas and Latham Thomas
Mickalene Thomas and Latham Thomas. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comHonor McGee, Jennifer Fisher and Tina Leung
Honor McGee, Jennifer Fisher and Tina Leung. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comJenny Mollen and Stacey Bendet
Jenny Mollen and Stacey Bendet. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comWisdom Kaye and Samuel Hine
Wisdom Kaye and Samuel Hine. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comDanielle Hankin and Sami Deller
Danielle Hankin and Sami Deller. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comBianca Lawson and Hannah Bronfman
Bianca Lawson and Hannah Bronfman. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comKulapat Yantrasast and Yvonne Force Villareal
Kulapat Yantrasast and Yvonne Force Villareal. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comGenevieve Roth, Carri Twigg and Nadia Nascimento
Genevieve Roth, Carri Twigg and Nadia Nascimento. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comVanessa Riding, Stephanie Horton and Priya Shukla
Vanessa Riding, Stephanie Horton and Priya Shukla. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comAlexander Hankin and Makenzie Phelan
Alexander Hankin and Makenzie Phelan. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comBailey Jane
Bailey Jane. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comFederica Parruccini, Jenny Chandler and Adrienne Hahn
Federica Parruccini, Jenny Chandler and Adrienne Hahn. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comChristine Mack
Christine Mack. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comHenry R. Muñoz III
Henry R. Muñoz III. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comWill Cotton and Rose Dergan
Will Cotton and Rose Dergan. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comTerrence Charles and Angelica Hicks
Terrence Charles and Angelica Hicks. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comSujin Dolan and Nicole Federico
Sujin Dolan and Nicole Federico. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comNeil Blumenthal and Umindi Francis
Neil Blumenthal and Umindi Francis. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comBrian Atwood and Jake Deutsch
Brian Atwood and Jake Deutsch. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comNicky Hilton
Nicky Hilton. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comDoreen Remen and Yvonne Force Villareal
Doreen Remen and Yvonne Force Villareal. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comRafa Olarra and Derrick Adams
Rafa Olarra and Derrick Adams. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comWisdom Kaye, Samuel Hine, Hannah Traore, Terrence Charles, Quil Lemons and Brooke Wise
Wisdom Kaye, Samuel Hine, Hannah Traore, Terrence Charles, Quil Lemons and Brooke Wise. Kevin Czopek/BFA.comChloe Wise, Brooke Wise and Hannah Traore
Chloe Wise, Brooke Wise and Hannah Traore. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comBianca Lawson and Sergio Hudson
Bianca Lawson and Sergio Hudson. Neil Rasmus/BFA.comSami Deller
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