What went down at The Whitney Art Party

BFAFebruary 4, 2026Art & Photography / What Went DownArt & Photography / What Went DownWhat went down at The Whitney Art Party

We headed to The Whitney Art Party, where familiar faces across art, fashion and entertainment came together to celebrate the iconic museum’s biggest night

ShareLink copied ✔️February 4, 2026February 4, 2026TextIsabel Bekele

Last Tuesday, hordes of New Yorkers braced icy sidewalks, piles of grey slush and freezing temperatures, all for a night at the museum. The occasion was The Whitney’s annual Art Party, a fundraising event that, over the years, has become a fixture of the city’s already abundant art scene. The proceeds benefited the Whitney’s Independent Study Program, an experimental community dedicated to fostering critical thinking, cross-disciplinary scholarship and writing, and multimedia artistic practices.

While the phrase “art party” evokes pictures of a sanitised, demure night, the late January soiree was anything but. The sold-out event took place after hours and brought together a truly eclectic crowd. Artists, writers, industry types, and art-lovers alike mingled throughout the multi-level event, with everyone from Martha Stewart to The Dare to Rama Duwaji making appearances. Attendees sipped margaritas, kept the dance floor active, scoped out the Museum’s galleries, and, just for a moment, enjoyed a rare bit of warmth. Below, we debrief on what went down.

THE THEME WAS ‘BOLD STYLE’ Pin It

Courtesy of BFA

With a dress code that called for guests’ loudest prints and most vibrant patterns, attendees came ready to serve. Cheethah print, sequins, and ample funky designs overtook the room, providing a much-needed contrast to the grayness outside the Museum’s gates.

IT WAS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Pin It

Courtesy of BFA

This year’s Art Party gathered a diverse guest list, with Ego Nwodim, Steven Beltrani, Micaela Erlanger, Martin Gutierrez, Alexander Hankin, and Emma Safir acting as co-chairs. The host committee was composed of several notable names from New York’s literary and arts circles, including author Sarah Hoover, journalist Danya Issawi, and model and gallerist Gabrielle Richardson. Despite the Whitney’s ample space and the fact that it was a weeknight, the venue quickly filled up as brightly dressed guests intermingled beneath equally bright neon lights.

GOING UP?

Courtesy of BFA

Though most of the event took place in the expansive Kenneth C. Griffin Hall, upstairs, there was more to explore. Party-goers seeking a bit of refuge (and actual art) headed upstairs to peruse several of The Whitney’s galleries, but not before experiencing a tequila-filled elevator ride.

THE DARE BROUGHT THE MUSIC Pin It

Courtesy of BFA

What’s a New York night out without a DJ set by The Dare? The downtown crowd’s favourite artist, whose real name is Harrison Patrick Smith, is known for popping up at the city’s biggest parties, and The Whitney Art Party was no exception. The headliner, who followed Raul de Nieves, kept the energy high until the night’s very end.

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