As always, it was a feast for the eyes at the Museum of Contemporary Art’s Benefit Art Auction, on Nov. 16. The event is one of Chicago’s most anticipated galas, and this year was no exception.
The gallery walls displayed dazzling works by contemporary art masters from Howardena Pindell to Chicago’s Theaster Gates to Richard Prince for the night’s auction. But the uber chic crowd of art patrons, gallerists and artists were the real stars of the night.
Guests included Desiree Rogers, who wowed in a shimmering gold leopard print Celine dress, and Anne Kaplan in a metallic Chanel tinsel dress.
The guys also made strong sartorial statements, most notably artist Brendan Fernandes in a striking Thom Browne duck-embroidered pink suit. Artist Nick Cave mixed houndstooth, camo and a skull print for maximum impact. The only competition was his beautifully embroidered sound suit sculpture on display at the auction.
The event — the most successful in the museum’s history — raised a record-breaking $6 million for the museum. Here are a few more of the night’s highlight numbers:
410 Number of guests
24 quotes by female artists in the immersive tent decor
93 Works in auction
5 number of countries with auction bidders
$1,150,000 highest bid of the night for Richard Prince’s “Untitled,” 2018
18 Number of times the MCA has hosted a Benefit Art Auction
450 pounds of New York strip steak served at dinner
4 days and 2 pastry chefs to create 425 individual huckleberry cheesecakes
-David Syrek
chicagotribune.com