PHOTOS: Inside Public Art Fund’s 2026 Spring Benefit

Rachel Park in artist Juan Veloz’s installation. Deonte Lee/BFA.com

In the busy and busy calendar of spring celebrations, the Public Art Fund’s annual benefit has always provided the art world with an opportunity to break out. Earlier this month, the largest fundraiser of the year returned to the Metropolitan Pavilion with its trademark dynamism presented this year by three artists whose work is deeply integrated into the 2026 Public Art Fund programme. Genesis Belangerinspired by her upcoming exhibition at City Hall Park, designed the evening’s atmosphere, extending her distinctive visual and conceptual language into every corner of the space. photographer Juan Velozwhose works formed the Public Art Fund’s first exhibition of the year, “On the Other Side,” presented an immersive portraiture 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 Kambwe Olujimione of 19 artists making their debut at JFK Airport’s Terminal 6 this year, brought the spirit of travel to the party with an activity that saw partygoers create custom luggage tags.

After a seated dinner for Canard, the silent auction kept patrons wandering and collectors competing, with works by Camille Henrot, Eddie Martinez, Karine Olivier, Gabriel Orozco, Amalia Pica, Hayal Pozanti, Paul Anthony Smith, Hank Willis Thomas and Carmen Winant on display—every dollar allocated to supporting exhibitions and partnerships that revitalize New York’s public spaces. Then, as always, there was the next party: the DJs Matthew Mazur and Dances On the decks, Diageo cocktails are on hand and Emily SegalPersonalized cookies that do the rounds.

This year’s crowd included artists Charlie Ahern, Candida Alvarez, Felipe Baeza, Leila Babiri, Camila Valquez, Moko Fukuyama, Shara Hughes, Janelle Iglesias, Jane Dixon, Eddie Martinez, Karen Olivier, Hello Bozanti, Paul Anthony Smith and Hank Willis ThomasAlong with the stars of art and culture Suhali Bautista Carolina From the American LGBTQ+ Museum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Performa Catherine BishopCEO of Creative Time Jean Cooney and Natasha Logan From the Harlem Studio Museum. It has also been monitored Anna Bloom vine, Corinna Dorland koremanzoto, Anna Fisher david Kordansky, Sondia Nwadzor Of the white cube and Mary Grace Reeder and Bethstop From Hauser & Wirth.

Rounding out the evening’s lineup were art collectors Carla Sheenactor Deborra Lee Furness (A charitable force in her own right), author Tom Dejaphotographer Sophie Elgort And the benefactors Nancy and Ziggy Alderman, Desiree Almodóvar, Edward Berman, Hannah Rose McNeely, Jolly Road A prominent patron of the arts Jennifer Soros. Of course, in this digital age, one cannot forget the diverse presence of tastemakers on social media, which this year included Ariel Adkins, Tatiana Gordon, Kira Lokhmatova, Nimai Ndolo And cheerful Rosie Beck.