The Norton Museum of Art’s annual gala in recent years has become a regular stop on the winter social calendar for artistic snowbirds. This year’s fête drew around 700 guests to the center not only for cocktails, dinner and dancing but also for a live auction hosted by. Oliver Barkerchairman of the European Union, with works by Julie Curtiss, Jeffrey Gibson, Jessie Henson again Marilyn Minter. The program, managed by the director and CEO of Norton Ghislain d’Humièresan honorary museum trustee Ronnie Heyman and the artist Loie Hollowellwhose A green brain on meaty shoulders (2025) is included in the live sale.
The atmosphere of the gala itself was a carefully curated nod to “Art and Life in Rembrandt’s Time: Masterpieces from the Leiden Collection,” which will be on view at the museum through March 29. Gala co-chairs Audrey Gruss, Sue Hosteller again Josephine Kalismanbeside the seats Candace Barasch, Lorna Jamesthe collector Beth Rudin DeWoody, Lisa Tananbaum again Silvia Zoullascollaborate with the designer Chris Hessney turning the place into a living tribute to the Dutch in the 17th century and today. Candle-lit tables, heavy velvet and lush floral arrangements create a table that clearly reflects the luxury and theatrics of the Old Masters.
But, as is often the case, it was the gala’s guest list that revealed the evening’s real currency: generosity. The event raised nearly $5 million to support the museum’s preservation programs, reading and community engagement programs, fundraising efforts fueled by a mix of cultural power brokers, financiers and heritage collectors. Among the VIPs were collectors Mera Rubell again Don Rubelltheir family collection helped shape the canon of modern art, Hilary Ross again Wilbur Ross (billionaire financier and former US Secretary of Commerce), and Jim Karp again Irene Karp.
There were also fashionable couples Tommy Hilfiger again Dee Hilfigerphilanthropists Kimberly Bluhm again Neil Bluhm, Martin Gruss again Audrey Gruss again Lew Sanders again Ali Sandersand the Warhol Museum Jane Holzeractor George Hamilton and the artist Maynard Monroe. Billionaire business leaders Aerin Lauder again Julia Koch we rounded out the list in an event that placed artistic honor and economic power on an equal footing in serving not only the museum’s mission but also the artistic and community life of Palm Beach.
Loie Hollowell
Tommy and Dee Hilfiger
Sophocles and Silvia Zoullas
Aerin Lauder and Julia Koch
Alina de Almeida Paulson and John Paulson
Anne and Chris Reyes
Ashley Holzer, Rusty Holzer and Jane Holzer
Caroline Fitzgibbons and Tad Smith
Rick Salomon and Laura Landro
Nikki Harris and Bruce and Lori Gendelman
Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan
Maynard Monrow, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Mera and Don Rubell
Martin and Audrey Gruss
Lorna James, Keith James and Sarah Alsofrom
Lew and Ali Sanders
Kimberly and Neil Bluhm
Kelly Williams and Andrew Forsyth
Kathryn and Leo Vecellio
Katherine Bryan and George Hamilton
Josh and Victoria Harlan
Jim and Irene Karp and Bill Bone
Ji Ang Song and Little Song
Hilary and Wilbur Ross.
Heidi and Thomas McWilliams
Ghislain d’Humieres, Ronnie Heyman and Kelly Williams
Francine and Euclid Walker
Daisy Soros and Carol Moran
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