Inside Art Production Fund’s Decadent 25th Anniversary Gala

The slumber party–themed festivities raised nearly $700,000 for the public art nonprofit and featured a hypnotic performance by Madeline Hollander

March 13, 2025

On the evening of Wednesday, March 12, more than 300 of the biggest names from New York City’s creative cognoscenti headed to the Seagram Building to celebrate the Art Production Fund’s 25th anniversary in collaboration with Saks Fifth Avenue. The annual gala raised nearly $700,000 to support the nonprofit’s mission to bring ambitious public art projects to life, such as Elmgreen & Dragset’s surreal Prada boutique near Marfa, Texas, and Ugo Rondinone’s monumental stacked stone sculptures in the desert outside Las Vegas.

Kathleen Lynch, Casey Fremont Crowe Photo: Neil Rasmus/BFA.com

This year’s gala was slumber party–themed, so guests donned their most apropos looks for pajama party–inspired fun. An enveloping installation of pink satin sheets and pillows greeted attendees at the entrance before they proceeded upstairs for cocktails at The Grill, where a dazzling tower of Champagne Lallier and cotton candy Buggy Bear sculptures devised by Alake Shilling awaited.

Before dinner, the organization’s executive director Casey Fremont gave a celebratory toast over a champagne tower. “This year is extra special, celebrating 25 years of Art Production Fund. It’s our silver anniversary and we barely look a day over 24,” she said with a laugh before complementing co-founders Yvonne Force Villareal and Doreen Remen. “You really started something special and it has been an incredible 20 years. Along with [director of operations] Kathleen Lynch, it’s an honor to carry Art Production Fund into the future. It’s our mission and our passion to bring art to the public. Not only adding art to everyday life, but giving artists the opportunity to experiment, realizing projects outside their commercial practice.”

Table settings at the gala. Photo: Neil Rasmus/BFA.com

Guests were then ushered to dinner at The Pool, where they were treated to an original performance commission by Madeline Hollander called Sonnambula. Inspired by Balanchine’s La Sonnambula ballet and accompanied by harpist and violinist duo Leya, the piece culminated in the dancers “falling asleep” at the center of the pool. Then came the decadent and sleepover-appropriate dinner, which featured shrimp cocktail and Sadelle’s mini pizza bagels packaged in custom pizza boxes. Each table setting was complete with an original bedtime story program illustrated by Angela Hicks among other surprises for guests to take home, including Art Production Fund shirts, personalized Saks compact mirrors, barrettes, sleep masks, and skincare courtesy of 111SKIN.

Following dinner, Sara Friedlander, the deputy chairman of postwar and contemporary art at Christie’s, led a live auction of works by Katherine Bernhardt, Joel Gaitan, Greg Ito, Joel Mesler, and Hiba Schahbaz. All proceeds from the sale directly support Art Production Fund. The event attracted a coterie of art-world A-listers including Miles Greenberg, Shantell Martin, Waris Ahluwalia, Jasmine Wahi, Athena Calderone, Leo Villareal, Mickalene Thomas, Derrick Adams, Amy Fine Collins, Sheree Hovsepian, Sanford Biggers, Mira Mariah, and more.

Scroll below to see more images from the evening.