21-05-2025
TLC, a Milestone Anniversary, and $6 Million Raised: Inside the Star-Studded Whitney Gala
Last night, New York's art world turned out in style to celebrate a milestone moment at the 2025 Whitney Gala. The annual soirée marked a decade since the museum's move to its downtown home in the Meatpacking District—and the 10-year anniversary of the Max Mara Whitney bag. Adding to the festivities, the evening shattered records, raising an impressive $6 million in support of the museum.
Hosted by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, with honorary co-chairs Judy and Leonard Lauder, the gala drew a dazzling roster of attendees including Leslie Bibb, Michelle Monaghan, Claire Danes, Laura Harrier, Jordan Roth, and Nicky and Kathy Hilton. Set against the backdrop of the museum's soaring galleries, the evening paid tribute to three influential figures whose work has left an indelible mark on the art world: acclaimed artist Amy Sherald, esteemed curator and scholar Barbara Haskell, and devoted patron Richard DeMartini.
The Whitney's mission to celebrate American art—both past and present—was powerfully reflected throughout the evening. Sherald, best known for her portrait of First Lady Michelle Obama, delivered a moving speech reflecting on her artistic journey. 'When I first began painting portraits, I wasn't trying to make history. I just wanted to offer images that looked like the world I come from—ordinary and extraordinary at the same time,' she explained. 'Art has given me a way to process the world, to imagine new ones, and to leave something behind that speaks when I'm not in the room.'
Standing in a space that once felt out of reach, Sherald's words echoed a powerful sentiment first voiced by Obama herself at the 2015 opening of the Whitney's downtown home—remarks revisited by museum director Scott Rothkopf during the gala. 'There are so many kids in this country who look at places like museums and think, 'That's not a place for me,'' Obama had said. Rothkopf reflected on how the Whitney has embraced that challenge, working to 'open our doors as wide as possible'—a mission now realized through inclusive initiatives like Free Friday Nights and Free Second Sundays.
Haskell, who has dedicated five decades to the Whitney, delivered a heartfelt speech. 'We did everything from curating shows to planting tomatoes with the director on the roof,' she recalled. 'Despite its growth, the Whitney has remained a family.'
And just when it seemed the night had peaked, guests were treated to a surprise performance by TLC. As glasses were raised in tribute to the past decade—and in anticipation of the future—the energy in the room made it clear: the Whitney's doors aren't just wide open; they're paving the way for the next generation of American art.
Scroll through below for a closer look inside.
