Brooklyn Artists Ball honors Museum Director Arnold Lehman and artists Jean-Michel Basquiat, Takashi Murakami and Kiki Smith
The Brooklyn Museum hosted the Brooklyn Artists Ball to honor its retiring director, Arnold Lehman, and three contemporary artists who had exhibitions during his tenure, at the fifth annual fundraiser gala Wednesday night.
The museum invited artists featured in years past for the event, including Jen Catron and Paul Outlaw, FAILE, Fernando Mastrangelo, OLEK, Duke Riley, Situ Studio, Swoon and Dustin Yellin, for its famous and lavish table installations.
Brooklyn’s arts patrons began filtering into the museum around 6:30 p.m. Naturally, artists’ outfits tended toward the flamboyant, while benefactor types generally favored traditional suits and dresses.
Amirah Kassem, owner and founder of Flour Shop bakery, arrived in a confectionary-themed ensemble, replete with candy accents, a large collar bow and an accessory lollipop. Greg Fletcher and Kehinde Wiley strolled down the red carpet in tandem, each sporting bright-colored suits — Fletcher’s a bright salmon hue and Wiley’s light blue and festooned with sea life imagery. Flush with inspiration from her recent travels in India, Olek wore a red sari and had henna designs inked on her hands and forearms.