The Whitney Museum of American Art raised $4.8M at its annual Gala and Studio Party, marking the third anniversary of the Museum’s move to its downtown home in the Meatpacking District. The evening celebrated Whitney’s past year of achievements and honored artist Lorna Simpson, as well as longtime Trustees Joanne Leonhardt Cassullo and Beth Rudin DeWoody. This year’s Gala was sponsored by Audi, and the following Studio Party was sponsored by both Audi and Michael Kors.

The Gala ceremony and dinner took place across the Museum’s first floor Kenneth C. Griffin Hall, and Andrea and James Gordon Restaurant at Untitled. Elizabeth Alexander, President of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, paid tribute to Simpson. Adam D. Weinberg, Alice Pratt Brown Director of the Whitney Museum of American Art, later delivered a heartfelt tribute to Cassullo and DeWoody. The dinner ended with a heartfelt musical performance by Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award Winner Cynthia Erivo.