2026 Public Art Fund Party
Public Art Fund gathered artists, philanthropists, curators, and tastemakers for its annual Party, celebrating the creative forces behind its 2026 exhibition season and the organization’s continued commitment to bringing ambitious contemporary art to public spaces across New York City. As its largest fundraiser of the year, the evening supported the nonprofit’s mission of presenting free art in parks, plazas, waterfronts, and transit hubs throughout the five boroughs and beyond.
Bringing the spirit of its citywide programming indoors for one night, the event reflected the bold imagination behind Public Art Fund’s upcoming season. Guests were treated to artist-designed activations, a seated dinner by Canard, and a silent auction featuring works by leading contemporary artists. The celebration continued into the evening with an After Party featuring music by DJs Matthew Mazur and Dances, along with late-night bites, custom cookies by Emily Sigall of Emily’s Cookie Art, cocktails from Diageo brands, and wine courtesy of Imagery Wine Collection.
Artist Genesis Belanger, who provided creative direction for the 2026 Party, brought her signature visual language into the event’s design, drawing inspiration from her forthcoming City Hall Park exhibition. Her influence could be felt throughout the evening in the tablescapes, menus, lighting, and overall atmosphere, turning the celebration into an immersive extension of her work.
The night also featured interactive experiences tied directly to Public Art Fund’s 2026 programming. Photographer Juan Veloz, who participated in the organization’s first exhibition of the year, On the Flip Side, created an immersive portrait installation inspired by a grandmother’s living room, inviting guests into a setting rooted in comfort, storytelling, and memory. Kambui Olujimi, one of 19 artists debuting permanent commissions at JFK Terminal 6 this year, inspired a luggage tag-making activation that nodded to Public Art Fund’s growing presence in travel hubs across the city.
This year’s Party highlighted a dynamic exhibition season ahead, including projects by Woody De Othello, Gabriel Orozco, Camille Henrot, and artists featured in the Between Tides group exhibition at Rockaway Beach. Together, the works continue Public Art Fund’s legacy of making world-class contemporary art accessible to New Yorkers in the places they move through every day.
Guests included Deborra-Lee Furness, Nancy and Ziggy Alderman, Desiree Almodovar, Patricia E. Harris, Julie and Paul Rudd, Jennifer Soros, Charlie Ahearn, Candida Alvarez, Felipe Baeza, Genesis Belanger, Leilah Babirye, Jane Dickson, Eddie Martinez, Kambui Olujimi, Karyn Olivier, Hayal Pozanti, Paul Anthony Smith, Hank Willis Thomas, and Juan Veloz, among many others from the worlds of art, philanthropy, and culture. The evening’s Artsy-powered silent auction featured works by 16 global artists, with up to 25 percent of net proceeds benefiting the artists themselves.
As Public Art Fund continues to shape how contemporary art is experienced in New York City, this year’s Party served as both a celebration of what’s ahead and a reminder of the power of public art to transform the city’s everyday spaces.
All Photos by Filip Wolak
