Artists, patrons, and friends gathered in the rotunda for dinner and a surprise performance by Janelle Monáe.

Artists, friends and patrons gathered in the Guggenheim rotunda Tuesday night for the museum’s annual benefit, “Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries.”

The evening honored artist Alex Katz and Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism — Abu Dhabi, with a tribute to the late Frank Gehry. The famed Canadian-American architect designed the foundation’s Bilbao location in addition to the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi museum set to open next month.

Guests in attendance included Richard Armstrong, Leonardo Drew, Jeffrey Gibson, Alteronce Gumby, Jamian Juliano-Villani, Deana Lawson, Glenn Ligon, Myriam Ben-Salah, Adam Silver, Oscar Murillo, Marc Quinn, Taryn Simon and Avery Singer. Funds raised from the benefit will go toward exhibitions, education programs, and the preservation of its collection and landmark building.

Surrounded by Simon’s groundbreaking exhibition , “Father Country I Do Love You,” guests began the evening with cocktails and an intimate look at the museum’s first monographic show dedicated to a photo artist. A few years prior, in 2022, the rotunda was filled with Katz’s work, marking a monumental moment in both the artist’s career and the history of the museum. “I came in and I said, ‘the bathrooms are the same place as they always are,’” shared Katz’s grandson and studio coordinator, Oliver Katz. “And I thought, the architecture is deeply for the people. ” “It’s an exciting return to this space, because I came here probably four or five times when he had the show here,” said Katz’s other grandson and studio coordinator, Isaac Katz.

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