Garden of Colours
For its spring gala, the New York Botanical Garden burst in pops of colour from the bright art of Yayoi Kusama
After a year-long wait, the New York Botanical Garden finally hosted the Spring Gala in celebration of the highly acclaimed exhibition, KUSAMA: Cosmic Nature, highlighting the unique installations by Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama. The event was sponsored by Hearst, Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame and De Beers Jewellers.
Guests showed up donning vibrant florals that complemented both Kusama’s exhibit and the venue’s 250-hectare verdant landscape. The evening was filled with an eminent crowd, including Gala Chairs Georgina Bloomberg, Lili Buffett, Kate Davis, Gillian Hearst, Sharon Jacob, Holly Lowen, Ashley McDermott, Janet Montag and Deborah Royce.
Olivia Palermo and Johannes Huebl, Brooke Shields, Nacho Figueras and Delfina Blaquier,
Prabal Gurung, Fernando Garcia, Cynthia Rowley, Tina Leung, Nigel Barker, Cristina Cuomo, Aurora James, Brian Atwood and Jake Deutsch also arrived.
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame even hosted a champagne cocktail hour. Hors d’oeuvres inspired by seasonal garden produce paired with glasses of the new vintage La Grande Dame 2012 were served for guests to toast to Madame Clicquot and Yayoi Kusama, who partnered with the brand to create unique vintage bottles with her signature dots, bright hues and exquisite style. Afterward, guests were led to the Conservatory Tent for a sit-down dinner and light-hearted dancing with DJ Mei Kwok’s music in the background.
Dazzling the crowd in sparkling diamonds from De Beers Jewellers were Blaquier, Cuomo, Bloomberg, Hearst, Buffett, McDermott, Lowen, Jacob, Rowley, Atwood, Deutsch and Kit Keenan.
In honour of the brand’s Reflections of Nature high-jewellery collection, an interactive mirrored, floral photo moment was installed where the guests had their own artistic portraits taken as a keepsake.
In support of the NY Botanical Garden’s education and outreach programmes, US$1.3 million was raised. The significant amount made the evening more memorable, not only for the guests but for those who will benefit from it.