Phoenix (April 25, 2024) — Phoenix Art Museum celebrated its 65th anniversary with its annual fundraiser, The pARTy, held on Saturday, April 13, 2024. More than 300 attendees graced the Museum, contributing to a fundraising total exceeding $820,000. These proceeds will support the Museum’s exhibitions, educational initiatives and essential operations.
The evening exuded elegance as guests adorned in shades of pink and sapphire enjoyed cocktails in the Steele Gallery while being serenaded by the captivating melodies of acclaimed Valley pianist Luke Holton. A new addition to this year’s affair, guests dined under the stars in the Dorrance Sculpture Garden, accompanied by live entertainment by Arizona-based French swing and jazz band Zazu West. This year’s 65th anniversary Sapphire pARTy in the Garden gala was chaired by Matthew Feeney, Michele Feeney, Donald Opatrny and Judith Opatrny.
The special evening also kicked off the Museum’s widely anticipated exhibition Multiple Realities Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc, 1960s -1980s. Renowned for its avant-garde and experimental artworks, the exhibition explores how artists of the Cold War era pursued creative liberty and battled systems of censorship that sought to surveil and silence them.
“We are deeply grateful to our gala co-chairs, sponsors, guests and donors who made our 65th anniversary pARTy in the Garden a tremendous success,” said Jeremy Mikolajczak, the Museum’s Sybil Harrington Director and CEO. “It was a memorable night celebrating Phoenix Art Museum, our local artist community and our incredible base of supporters who provide critical support to ensure the vitality of the arts.”
Following the gala, festivities continued at The Pink afterpARTy in Cummings Great Hall. Chaired by Vanessa Ruiz, Sam Alpert, Lisa Bienstock and Ben Himmelstein, this late-night, “museum-after-dark experience,” featured music curated by DJ Yeezus, delectable late-night snacks, pink-themed desserts including cotton candy and craft cocktails—all inclusive with ticket purchase. Guests also had unlimited, private access to Barbie®: A Cultural Icon and its complementary exhibition, The Power of Pink, drawn largely from the Museum’s expansive fashion-design collection and features haute-couture fashions such as Post Malone’s 2019 GRAMMY ensemble.
About Phoenix Art Museum
Since 1959, Phoenix Art Museum has provided millions of guests with access to world-class art and experiences in an effort to ignite imaginations, create meaningful connections, and serve as a brave space for all people who wish to experience the transformative power of art. Located in Phoenix’s Central Corridor, the Museum is a vibrant destination for the visual arts and the largest art museum in the southwestern United States. Each year, more than 350,000 guests engage with critically acclaimed national and international exhibitions and the Museum’s collection of more than 19,000 works of American and Western American, Asian, European, Latin American, modern, and contemporary art and fashion design.
The museum also presents a comprehensive film program, live performances and educational programs designed for visitors of all ages, along with vibrant photography exhibitions made possible through the museum’s landmark partnership with the Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona. To learn more about Phoenix Art Museum, visit PHXART.ORG or call 602.257.1880.
About Multiple Realities: Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc, 1960s –1980s
Organized by the Walker Art Center, Multiple Realities: Experimental Art in the Eastern Bloc, 1960s -1980s uncovers how a generation of artists from the Cold War period pursued creative freedom and battled systems of censorship that sought to surveil and silence them.
About Barbie®: A Cultural Icon
Created by Illusion Projects and curated by costume historian Karan Feder, in collaboration with Mattel, Barbie®: A Cultural Icon examines the brand’s 65-year history and the doll’s global impact on fashion and culture through more than 250 vintage dolls—including the original Barbie—from the collections of private collector David Porcello and Mattel.
About The Power of Pink
Drawn largely from the Museum’s renowned fashion-design collection, The Power of Pink celebrates the complex history of pink. The exhibition traces the history of the hue from its origins in 17th-century France to 1940s North America, through works by Christian Dior, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent and more.
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