PHOTOS: Inside the New Museum Spring Gala 2026

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PHOTOS: Inside the New Museum Spring Gala 2026

John Waters and Jeff Koons Yvonne Tnt/BFA.com

After nearly three decades at the helm of the New Museum, former director Lisa Phillips he deserved an institutional send-off, and in late April, at Cipriani South Street, he got it. At the New Museum’s Spring Gala, a cocktail hour with DJ sets follows Stretch Armstrongformer director of Whitney Adam Weinberg and the artist Maya Lin talked about one of Phillips’ contributions to the art world, and it became a legend John Waters (yes, that John Waters) led the packed room in a toast. After the art director’s speeches Massimiliano Gionithe creator Phyllis Kao led a rowing cycle—the lot included the work of Jack Pierson and Billy Sullivan and the programs of Rashid Johnson and Cindy Sherman—who helped raise a large sum of money to go along with supporting the museum’s work.

The guest list reads like a syllabus for a master class in contemporary art. Myths Barbara Kruger, Marilyn Minter, Judy Chicago again Joan Jonas shared a room with musicians Dana Schutz, John Currin, Mickalene Thomas, Derrick Adams, Hank Willis Thomas, Anne Imhof again Derek Fordjouramong many others. A museum and gallery of world instruments has also—unsurprisingly—become operational, from the director of the Brooklyn Museum Anne Pasternak and former director of the Hammer Museum Ann Philbin at the Studio Museum in Harlem director Thelma Goldenthe custodian Cecilia Alemanigalleries Jeffrey Deitch again Nicola Vassell. Chairman of the Honors Committee Chloe Sevigny (in a floral Chloé gown with floral tables) presided over a crowd that included actresses John Leguizamo again Matt Dillonwriter and commentator Hilton Alsartist and founder of Pioneer Works Dustin Yellina film maker Catherine Gund and various arts patrons and cultural philanthropists. Gala chairs Charlotte Feng Ford, Shelley Fox Aarons, Mitzi Eisenberg, Patricia Blanchet, Stephanie Horton, Richard Mumbi again Jamie Singer Soros kept the night running smoothly.

The night closed with an energetic performance by the OG punk rock goddess Deborah Harrywhich felt very appropriate because the New Museum under Lisa Phillips was not content with just the good when the truly rare was to be found.