GUESTS DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY WITH THE DARE AT THE SOLD-OUT 2026 WHITNEY ART PARTY

GUESTS DANCED THE NIGHT AWAY WITH THE DARE AT THE SOLD-OUT 2026 WHITNEY ART PARTY

View photo gallery of the event

The Whitney Museum of American Art hosted its annual Art Party on January 27, 2026, drawing a sold-out crowd of young patrons, artists, and cultural insiders for one of the most anticipated nights on New York’s arts calendar. Organized by the Whitney Contemporaries, the event brought together voices from art, fashion, media, philanthropy, and entertainment for an evening that blurred nightlife with institutional support for contemporary art.

Held inside the museum’s Kenneth C. Griffin Hall, the night featured DJ sets by The Dare and Raúl de Nieves, keeping the dance floor packed well into the night. Guests also enjoyed exclusive after-hours access to the Museum’s galleries, reinforcing the Art Party’s status as both a social fixture and a rare opportunity to experience the Whitney in a more relaxed, celebratory setting.

The night’s energy was set by The Dare, the New York–based project of musician and producer Harrison Patrick Smith. Best known for his breakout single “Girls” and for producing Charli XCX’s “Guess” from the deluxe edition of “Brat,” The Dare has become a fixture of the city’s contemporary club and indie scenes. His 2024 debut album “What’s Wrong with New York?” helped cement his rise, bringing a sharp, irreverent edge to the Whitney Art Party’s soundtrack that felt distinctly of-the-moment.

Among the exhibitions open to guests was “High Wire: Calder’s Circus at 100,” marking the centennial of Alexander Calder’s formative Calder’s Circus, alongside “Untitled” (America), an ongoing presentation examining American art from 1900 through the early 1980s, and “Ken Ohara: CONTACTS,” a participatory photography project that documents the country through the perspectives of strangers. Together, the exhibitions offered a snapshot of the Whitney’s curatorial range—moving fluidly between movement and abstraction, national identity, and experimental approaches to authorship.

Co-chairs Ego Nwodim, Steven Beltrani, Micaela Erlanger, Martine Gutierrez, Alexander Hankin, and Emma Safir welcomed attendees throughout the evening. Notable guests included First Lady of New York City Rama Duwaji, Martha Stewart, Ego Nwodim, Ryan Jamaal Swain, Ava Dash, Emira D’Spain, Jennifer Fisher, Jessel Taank, Caroline Vazzana, and Jessica Wang, alongside a wide mix of artists, designers, curators, and longtime museum supporters. Indira Cesarine, founder and editor-in-chief of The Untitled Magazine, was also among those in attendance.

The event was sponsored by Aesop, Faena New York, Libertine, and Maestro Dobel® Tequila, with craft cocktails served throughout the night and lighting and photobooth design by Wizard Studios. Proceeds from the Art Party directly benefit the Whitney’s ongoing efforts to support and champion emerging artists.

As a cornerstone of New York’s cultural and philanthropic landscape, the Whitney Art Party continues to reflect the evolving energy of the city’s creative community—bringing established figures and emerging voices together under one roof for a night where art, music, and nightlife naturally intersect.

Photos courtesy of Jason Lowrie/BFA.com

BENEFIT COMMITTEE
Tony Artiga, Frederick Baba, Michael Costelloe, Jonathan Densa, Adam Fields, Kyle Freeman, Jordan Fudge, Anthony Ghosn, Jeremy L. Goldstein, Eduardo Ibanez, Saad Iqbal, Casey Kohlberg, Molly Krause, Claire X. Lin, Hannah Rose McNeely, John Ng, George Petrocheilos and Diamantis Xylas, Heather Ripley, Akash Shah, Catherine Smith Licari, Todd White and Cameron Carani

HOST COMMITTEE
Edward Barsamian, Ariana Biermann, Malcolm Carfrae, Rose Carlisle, Jade Croonenberghs, CULTURED, Sarah Daoui, Ava Dash, Kate Davidson Hudson, Peter Davis, Sai De Silva, Emira D’Spain, Sophie Elgort, Jennifer Fisher, Sasha Gordon, Sarah Hoover, Logan Horne, Danya Issawi, Sebastian Jean, Dr. Amanda Kahn, Lotus L. Kang, Elizabeth Kurpis, Doron Langberg, Erin Lichy, Agosto Machado, Ian Malone, Sophie Yun Mancini, Brooks Marks, Meredith Marks, Georgia McCann, Matteo Mobilio, Lilah Ramzi, Hilary Rhoda, Gabrielle Richardson, Nicolaia Rips, Hayley River Smith, Céline Semaan, Daphne Seybold, Priya Shukla, Dani Stahl, Claire Stern Milch, Jessel Taank, Andrew Taylor, Elise Taylor, Kodie-Ann Walcott, Frank WANG Yefeng, John Wattiker, Timo Weiland