PHOTOS: Inside the 2026 Gordon Parks Foundation Gala

Mickalene Thomas and John Legend. Getty Images for Gordon Park

The Gordon Parks Foundation has spent two decades proving that creativity is among the most powerful tools in the fight for social justice, and the organization’s 20th anniversary gala at 42 Cipriani Street was testament to that. The electric evening raised a record $3 million, including $1.2 million from a lively auction of Parks’ photographs led by the famed auctioneer. Kimberly Bertle-To fund fellowships, awards, and scholarships that will carry Parks’ ideals to the next generation.

The night begins, Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr.Gordon, whose grandfather Philip Kunhardt co-founded the foundation alongside Parks, said the photographer “left clear instructions: ‘Take what you started and carry it into the future’… Gordon knew that art is more powerful than violence because it can open our eyes.” He then introduced the co-chairs Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz With a Parks portrait by the artist and a 2018 Foundation Fellow Derek Adams Before we pay tribute to the Foundation’s 2026 Fellows: jazz pianist and composer Jason MoranArtists Sanford Biggers and Amanda WilliamsAnd professor Lee Rayford.

From there, Pharrell Williams and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic at large at The New York Times Salmisha Tillet The first prize of the evening was presented to the EGOT award-winning artist and producer John LegendWho concluded his statements by raising his voice in song. Darren Walkerpresident and CEO of Anonymous Content, introduced him to the poet, scholar, and president of the Mellon Foundation Elizabeth AlexanderWho asserted that “Art is a necessary and courageous act. You cannot suppress its power.” Conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas Award presented to Chance the RapperWhile an artist, teacher and photographer Diana Lawson Respected artist Henry Taylor. And last but not least, an athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick Present the final award of the evening to Color meWho accepted on behalf of Muhammad Ali’s family.

Chance the Rapper. Quader More / BFA.com

The concert program included music. The evening opened with Chance The Rapper joining Anthony Morgan’s Inspirational Choir of Harlem for “I Was A Rock” – a gospel song interspersed with audio clips from a 1977 interview in which Ali discussed dedicating his post-retirement life to helping others. Dinner was accompanied by a musical interlude Dave Guytrumpeter for The Roots. Daughter of Gordon Parks Leslie Parks Bailey Musician, arranger and composer Mario Sprouse— the musical director of three of Parks’ films — then introduced Moran, who delivered a moving piano tribute to Muhammad Ali.

Overall, the concert, as usual, paid a fitting tribute to the man who used his camera as “A weapon against poverty, against racism, against all kinds of social wrongsPerhaps Chance the Rapper said it best when he leaned forward on stage and announced, “The world is burning, and the greatest defense we have in the art world is to act as documentarians.” Will we be spectators, or will we create the future we want? Let’s keep the fuck going.”