Galerie Celebrates the 2026 Creative Minds at Armani / Ristorante
The eighth annual list honors 26 visionary talents from the worlds of art, interior design, architecture, fashion, jewelry, photography, cuisine, and more
It was a balmy spring evening in New York when Galerie Magazine returned to Armani / Ristorante on Madison Avenue to celebrate the 2026 Creative Minds. Now in its eighth year, the signature list spotlights a hand-picked group of talents across the fields of art, design, fashion, jewelry, architecture, fragrance, cuisine, and more. To celebrate this year’s honorees, Galerie founder and editorial director Lisa Fayne Cohen and editor in chief Jacqueline Terrebonne hosted an elegant cocktail party and dinner that convened honorees, tastemakers, cultural leaders, and Galerie editors for an evening of exquisite Italian dining and inspiring conversation.
Many honorees were in attendance, including architect Suchi Reddy, winemaker Jesse Katz, interior designer Kit Kemp, landscape architect Walter Hood, designers Chris Wolston and Joseph Walsh, artist Michele Oka Doner, restaurateur Simon Kim, and jeweler Stephanie Wenk.
Once cocktail hour concluded, Fayne Cohen set the evening’s convivial spirit by reflecting on the magazine’s milestone tenth anniversary and lauding the exemplary talents of this year’s honorees. “These visionaries represent the very best across design, jewelry, fashion, and the culinary arts,” she remarked. “Tonight is a celebration of that spirit. What unites them is not simply talent, but the rare ability to imagine something entirely new—to reinvent the familiar, to go beyond convention, and to create work that feels unmistakably their own. The definition of creativity is often described as the ability to transform traditional ideas and bring forth something original, and every honoree in this room embodies that.”
This year’s honorees encompass astounding talents who are pushing boundaries to reinvent their disciplines in unexpected ways—and setting off ripples of inspiration throughout their respective fields. For instance, renowned choreographer Benjamin Millepied was celebrated alongside decorated chef Dominique Crenn, veteran lighting designer Lindsey Adelman, master perfumer Delphine Jelk, and Hermès Horloger creative director Philippe Delhotal.
“Our Creative Minds event is always my favorite night of the year,” Terrebonne remarked before dinner. “This week, the worlds of art and design from around the globe come together in New York, and our guests are such a beautiful example of that. This year’s honorees are joining us from across the map—Kit Kemp from London; Joseph Walsh from Ireland; Walter Hood from Oakland, Jesse Katz from Sonoma, Chris Wolston from Colombia, as well as New York stars such as Michele Oka Doner, Simon Kim, and Suchi Reddy.”
The evening’s celebratory tone was amplified by the glamorous environment of the Armani flagship building, a destination that includes retail, residences, and the sumptuous Armani / Ristorante, which is awash in moody tones with green and gold lacquered accents. As signature Armani/Casa lamps illuminated tables outfitted with lavish Armani flatware and sculptural floral arrangements, guests dined on a decadent menu of Italian cuisine curated by executive chef Daniele Castellano: insalata di spinaci, pan-fried branzino, grilled New York beef striploin, saffron risotto, and coconut meringue for dessert.
Previous honorees also attended to toast the 2026 class. They included ceramist Peter Lane; furniture designers Mark Grattan, Sébastien Léon, Achille Salvagni, and Mark and Maggie de la Vega; artist Misha Kahn; landscape architect Sara Zewde; gallerist Destinee Ross-Sutton; interior designers Christine Gachot and Lee F. Mindel; and floral designer Ariel Dearie. Other notables in attendance included editor Cynthia Frank, interior designers Penny Drue Baird and William Georgis; art adviser Heidi McWilliams; gallerist Jennifer Olshin; artist Lucy de Kooning Villeneueve; photographer Melanie Dunea; and architect Stephanie Goto.
“It’s extraordinary to have the most exceptional talents from such a wide range of fields as well as locales all together for one special dinner,” said Terrebonne. “You can feel the energy in the air—the fizzy excitement that comes from the cross-pollination of ideas, especially from such a revered group of Creative Minds.”
See more highlights from the event below:
