Who says Mondays are for staying in? This week, YoungArts hosted its annual New York Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Temple of Dendur, raising more than $1.2 million to propel the next generation of artistic voices into the spotlight. The evening, sponsored by Parisian jeweler Reza, drew over 250 luminaries from the worlds of art, dance, design, and philanthropy Uptown, transforming the museum's storied Egyptian ruins into a living stage.
The night’s honorary chairs—dancer Misty Copeland, MoMA PS1's Agnes Gund, and artist Titus Kaphar—welcomed guests with remarks celebrating YoungArts’s commitment to identifying and nurturing young creatives. Meanwhile, stage actor Katerina McCrimmon (a 2016 YoungArts award winner) emceed, and actor Zuzanna Szadkowski (1997 winner) orchestrated dynamic performances by a roster of YoungArts alumni. In the crowd, choreographer and actor Mikhail Baryshnikov, gallerist Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, and artists Sarah Sze, Kennedy Yanko, and KAWS mingled alongside the city's museum directors and patrons—every corner of New York's art scene showing up to support the next generation.
A dinner designed by events mastermind Raúl Àvila—yes, the creative behind the Academy Awards and Met Gala—leaned into lush floral motifs inspired by YoungArts winner Jordan Tiberio’s photography. Performers, from vocalists to jazz instrumentalists, took center stage throughout the night, showcasing precisely the kind of talent the organization has platformed for over four decades.
By evening’s end, guests left having been treated to more than just a good show; they saw a vision of a brighter artistic future—one in which YoungArts continues to stand at the forefront, championing emerging talent every step of the way.
