An Evening of Art & Influence: New York Academy of Art Tribeca Ball 2026

Last week, the New York Academy of Art held its annual Tribeca Ball, generously supported by Van Cleef & Arpels, on Monday, April 20th. More than a gala, the Tribeca Ball is a one-of-a-kind studio party that opens the doors of the Academy to the public, offering an intimate and immersive glimpse into the next generation of artists.

Notable guests included William Abadie, Will Cotton, Bob Cochran, Suzanne Cochran, Alan Cumming, Rose Dergan, Vincent Desiderio, Sophie Elgort, Gabriel Florenz, Barbara Guggenheim, Eileen Guggenheim, Neil Jenney, Bill Jacob, Sharon Jacob, Kit Keenan, Helen King, Nicole Miller, Alyssa Monks, Gigi Powers, Paul Provost, Cynthia Rowley, George Sard, Carla Shen, Susan Wasserstein, Isabel Wilkinson Schor, Russell Wilkinson, Dustin Yellin, and more.

VIP Studio Party & Gala Dinner

Guests wandered through working studios, engaging directly with the Academy’s 100 MFA candidates, experiencing firsthand the paintings, sculptures, drawings, and prints students have developed over the course of an intensive year. The celebration culminated in a festive dinner, which featured a lively paddle raise led by actor Christopher Hanke. Hanke was joined by the evening’s special honored guest, Alan Cumming. The true spirit of the event shone through – after an inspiring exchange with artists at a pivotal moment in their practice, dinner guests showed their generosity, helping to raise over $900.000.

Gala Honorees, Host & Chairs

This year’s Ball honored longtime Academy supporter and acclaimed actor Alan Cumming and paid tribute to Eileen Guggenheim and her husband, Russell Wilkinson. Guggenheim is concluding her 20-year term as Board Chair; Wilkinson is a co-founder of the Academy and a longtime Trustee. In a moving tribute, their daughter, Isabel Wilkinson Schor, offered heartfelt remarks celebrating their decades of dedication, sharing stories that reflected the depth of their hands-on support. President Paul Provost presented Alan Cumming and Russell Wilkinson with Honorary Doctorates. Event Chairs were Jennifer Gilbert and Alan Levan; Sharon and Bill Jacob; Helen King; Cynthia Rowley; and Susan Wasserstein and George Sard.

Tribeca Ball Impact & Legacy

A highlight of New York’s cultural calendar, the Tribeca Ball generated critical support for student scholarships and public programming. As an independent graduate school, the Academy relied on this generosity to sustain its rigorous training and expand access for talented artists from diverse backgrounds. For more than four decades, the New York Academy of Art had stood apart, its enduring success a testament to the vitality of these skills and to the artists who continued to carry them forward. Over the years, the Tribeca Ball has honored influential cultural figures, including Amy Sherald, Will Cotton, Robert De Niro, Eric Fischl, KAWS, Kenny Scharf, Laurie Simmons & Carroll Dunham, and Mickalene Thomas.

SAVE THE DATE: Join the New York Academy of Art on May 15th, from 6–8pm, for Tribeca Gallery Night! Over 80 galleries will be joining forces during New York’s art fair week to host extended hours for a night full of gallery hopping. Their MFA 2026 Thesis Exhibition will be on view in the cast hall and lobby as a part of this art-filled night. More details here!