The 25th annual ARTWALK NY took place on Monday night, celebrating the artist’s role as an activist in order to raise awareness surrounding poverty, homelessness, and social injustice. Hosted by fashion brand Max Mara, with the support of Artsy and Crozier Fine Arts, this year’s charity auction honored artist Katherine Bernhardt and philanthropist Michael Platt, while raising funds to aid Coalition for the Homeless.
Chaired by Maria Giulia Maramotti, the event saw more than 700 guests like TK Wonder, Louise Fishman, Glenn Ligon, Batsheva Hay, Zoe Buckman, Pari Ehsan, Casey Fremont, Eli Zabar, and Sophie Elgort come together in New York City’s Spring Studios. The night’s live auction included works like Ed Ruscha’s Says I, To Myself and a series of plates by Bernhardt, created in partnership with Prospect, which were sold within the first hour of the event, and each provided 75 hot meals to homeless New Yorkers with their proceeds.
Completing the evening, guests enjoyed fare and drinks by sponsors like Indochine, Jay’s Brooklyn, Colonia Verde, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Hendrick’s Gin, and Milagro Tequila, along with DJ sets by Mia Moretti and Elle Dee.
“The remarkable turnout and high energy crowd made this a hugely successful event,” said the Executive Director of Coalition for the Homeless, David Giffen. “It was really moving to see so many compassionate New Yorkers come out to support our homeless neighbors.”
Founded in 1981, Coalition for the Homeless is the nation’s leading organization in the fight for solutions to mass homelessness, offering support to well over 62,000 New Yorkers who are currently in shelters or forced to reside public spaces like subways and doorways. The annual ARTWALK NY sources critical funding for the organization’s 11 programs that offer lifesaving help like emergency food, permanent housing, job training, and more to 3,500 men, women, and children every day.