Performa has spent 20 years inspiring contemporary artists to experiment with live performance. So it’s no surprise that its anniversary celebration and biennial opening included many more such experiments. From an intimate tribute to Julie Mehretu at the Harlem Parish to a sprawling Lower East Side hub pulsing with sound, the programming blurred the lines between performance, music, and spectacle.
The Locale: Performa kicked off its anniversary and 2025 biennial with an opening celebration at Harlem Parish, a decommissioned church with sweeping ceilings, intricately carved columns, and architecture befitting a bit of theatrics. As the evening continued, the crowd flocked to Performa’s Lower East Side hub at 424 Broadway for an Artist Party packed with live activations.
The Entertainment: Experimental music ruled the night: composer Luciano Chessa and multi-instrumentalist Eric Mingus revived a collection of 1913 Futurist instruments designed by artist and composer Luigi Russolo. Longtime Performa collaborators and musicians Elliott Sharp and Joan La Barbara also took the stage.
Food and Drink: How does a series of custom wine blends from artists Julie Mehretu, Paul Pfeiffer, and Jessica Rankin sound? A silent auction of the wines benefitted Performa and Denniston Hill, the artist residency co-founded by Mehretu, Pfeiffer, and Lawrence Chua. (Rankin is a founding member.) Meanwhile, chef Marcus Samuelsson orchestrated a sumptuous feast of Ethiopian-inspired cuisine.
The Crowd: When a party is co-chaired by artist Rashid Johnson, you know an all-star cast will follow. (The late Agnes Gund had also signed on as a co-chair.) Guests included Performa Founder and Chief Curator RoseLee Goldberg, as well as artists Anne Imhof, Diane Severin Nguyen, Joan Jonas, Sanford Biggers, Laurie Simmons, Chloe Wise, Sylvie Fleury, Shirin Neshat, Karon Davis, Ayoung Kim, Robertas Narkus, Jessica Rankin, Ilana Savdie, and Kendalle Getty. The festivities also saw appearances from MoMA PS1 director Connie Butler, writer Whitney Mallett, dancer Isabella Boylston, and creative director Imogene Strauss, and curator Olivier Berggruen.
Parting Gift: The party doubled as the launch for Performa’s first magazine, Works in Practice. The magazine was co-edited by filmmaker Pierce Jackson, communications pro Dianna Mesion-Jackson, and designer Lynn Oh, with features by creatives across disciplines including Tyler Mitchell, Barbara Kruger, Paul Pfeiffer, Michele Lamy, Humberto Leon, and Devon Turnbull.
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