Two decades off the gala circuit has done nothing to dull the Rose Art Museum's edge. Last night, its first-ever New York benefit was more of a reintroduction than a reunion. Co-chaired by advisor Abigail Ross Goodman and Christie's Sara Friedlander, the institution highlighted its position at the intersection of scholarship and artistry, while also honoring two visionaries: sculptor Hugh Hayden and philanthropist Lizbeth Krupp, longtime chair of the museum’s board of advisors.
After a round of aperol spritzes, guests made their way upstairs for dinner, where a short film tracing the Rose’s legacy of prescient programming accompanied a three-course meal. Since its founding at Brandeis University in 1961, the museum has consistently positioned itself ahead of the curve—hosting formative exhibitions like 1970's "Vision & Television," the first U.S. museum show dedicated to video art.
Addressing the room of attendees—including artists Salman Toor, Leilah Babirye, Ali Banisadr, and Ilana Savdie; gallerist Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn; and the Public Art Fund's Nicholas Baume—Director Gannit Ankori affirmed the Rose’s role as a dynamic platform for curatorial experimentation. She also introduced Hayden, whose current survey "Home Work" exemplifies the museum’s commitment to emerging, boundary-pushing voices. Krupp was then honored for her decade of leadership and offered the first gift toward a new $2 million Exhibition Endowment Fund.
The fund will be kickstarted by the evening’s impressive $900,000 in funds raised, including the donation from Krupp. With such a triumphant return to the circuit, one thing is clear: the Rose Art Museum doesn’t just keep pace with the art world—it helps chart the course.
