The Artwalk NY gala and auction raised over $8 million on Tuesday in support of the Coalition for the Homeless’s programming. Presented by Max Mara, the event brought together artists, collectors, and philanthropists for an evening celebrating the power of art in advocacy work, while the Artist Plate Project staged an auction of artist-designed plates. Honorees included artist Sheree Hovsepian and Artist Plate Project Founder Michelle Hellman, with more than $1 million raised for the Coalition by the night’s closure.
The Setting: The 2025 Artwalk NY gala transformed the Grill and the Pool at the Seagram Building into an elegant center of art, philanthropy, and good old-fashioned New York buzz. Sleek, modernist interiors, coupled with candlelight, provided a poised backdrop for the evening’s celebration hosted across the two venues.
The Crowd: A suave coterie of attendees across creative industries mingled in the fray, including artists Rashid Johnson, Joel Mesler, Eddie Martinez, Sam Moyer, Angel Otero, Leelee Kimmel, Jules de Balincourt, Dustin Yellin, and Mickalene Thomas, alongside patrons Sarah Arison and Don Lemon, Studio Museum Director Thelma Golden, Art Production Fund Executive Director Casey Fremont, entrepreneur Claire Olshan, and fashion tastemaker Charlotte Groeneveld.
The Entertainment: Cocktail hour in the Grill featured a DJ set by AKU, setting the room alight as guests bid on the selection from the Artist Plate Project. Following the reception, a seated dinner in the Pool included remarks from Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Dave Giffen and honors presented to Hovsepian by her husband, Rashid Johnson.
Memorable Moment: Hovsepian’s acceptance speech underscored the night’s ethos: “Art is not only about beauty and expression, but also about empathy and action.” The live auction, led by advisor Aileen Agopian, showcased works by the artist, as well as Ed Ruscha, driving fundraising efforts.
What You Missed: Nearly 100 unique Artist Plate Project works were also up for sale, with additional works from artists Katherine Bradford, Stanley Whitney, and Joan Snyder set to appear at Phillips’s Modern & Contemporary Art Day Sale on Nov. 21.
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