2007 Whitney Gala & Studio Party

October 24th, 2007

The 2007 Whitney Gala and Studio Party took place last night, sponsored by Akris, an up-and-coming Swiss fashion label. Akris’ Madison Avenue boutique held events during fashion week to kick off the partnership.


via ArtInfo.com
Actresses Meryl Streep and Kyra Sedgewick, two of the Gala co-chairs

This year’s Gala was held in honor of American artist Chuck Close, the first artist to sit on Whitney’s Board of Trustees, who will be leaving after seven years. He was in top form, dominating the lit up dance floor on his electric wheelchair with a swathe of sequined art girls boogieing all around him. It was hard not to dance, given the musical selection was described by revelers as “cruise ship music” and “like my niece’s Bat Mitzvah”.


via ArtInfo.com
Whitney director Adam Weinberg, collector Leonard Lauder

These Whitney events have become the hot new parties of the New York scene drawing a well-heeled mixture of art worlders and Hollywood alike, with a pleasant peppering of errant socialites. Kyra Sedgewick, Meryl Streep and Candice Bergen were present, along with designers Vera Wang and David Yurman, and artist Jeff Koons. Whitney chairman and museum benefactor Leonard Lauder was in attendance as well, spotted with Alberto Mugrabi and Whitney director Adam Weinberg.


via ArtInfo.com
Don Gummer, Meryl Streep, Leslie Close, Georgia Close, Chuck Close, Kyra Sedgewick