It was Washington’s first time attending the Artists Ball with Dior—but likely not her last. “Cultural institutions are really in danger right now because of the threats to funding for the arts and humanities. Nights like this are vital; they support the spaces that reflect our shared humanity.”
Screen star Alexandra Daddario—also a born-and-raised New Yorker—shared similar sentiments. “The first time I came to the Brooklyn Museum, I was blown away,” she said. “Since moving back from L.A., I’ve fallen in love with the city again. It’s so important to support the arts—we’re having similar conversations in Hollywood. Art is fundamental to being human.”
After posing in the atrium for photographers, guests including Lily Allen, Keri Russell, Emma Roberts, Mickalene Thomas, and Jordan Roth mingled over cocktails beneath Hank Willis Thomas’s glowing LOVERULES neon or beside the towering KAWS sculptures. (KAWS himself, aka Brian Donnelly, was seen chatting with fellow artists nearby.)
A rousing dance performance by Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet, set to a ’70s disco soundtrack and accompanied by live drummers, signaled it was time to ascend to the Beaux-Arts Court for dinner.
There, artist Jeffrey Gibson—who currently has two solo exhibitions on view at the museum—had transformed the space with a vivid installation.
Guests dined on asparagus salad, Branzino, and raspberry mousse as remarks were made by museum leadership. When Walker took the stage, he offered a stirring speech: “This evening is about light. It is about joy. It is about community and hope,” he said, before adding with a grin, “And while I am a warrior for social justice, let me just say…I love luxury! There is nothing better than Dior.”
“I’d be disingenuous if I didn’t admit that I’m worried about our country,” he continued. “But we must also be hopeful—this museum is a temple of hope. Artists matter in a democracy. They hold up a mirror and ask us to reckon with ourselves. If we are to be saved, it will be because of you.”
His remarks ushered in a successful paddle raise, with over half a million dollars pledged within minutes. Museum director Anne Pasternak also shared that thanks to a generous $1 million gift from the Ford Foundation, numerous works by African-American artists currently in storage will soon be displayed on the museum’s walls.
Singer-songwriter Laufey closed the dinner with a live performance before the after-party, headlined by Swizz Beatz, got underway on the museum’s main floor.
“Any time I get to be in a museum after hours, I feel like a kid,” said Washington. “I love spending extra time with the work.” Still, she wasn’t planning a late night—with the Met Gala just days away, even the most glamorous museum moments must occasionally yield to beauty sleep.
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