The Tribeca Ball's Arty Five-Floor Bash

by The Daily Front Row

(NEW YORK) “So, have you bought any pieces yet?”: That was the oft-repeated question of the evening at the annual art-intensive Tribeca Ball. Housed in the New York Academy of Art, guests in cocktail attire and heels traipsed up and down five flights of stairs to check out the hundreds of canvases, sculptures, and installations on display from the academy’s students. With ample recharging stations (aka, bars stocked with wine and beer) guests were fueled to weave in and out of the miniature studios, interspersing purchases with air kisses. The young artists themselves were on hand with the task of selling their paintings and drawings, while others provided entertainment in the form of a live string performance. That was just the cocktail hour…

The young artists weren’t the only focus of the night: Caroll Dunham and Laurie Simmons were the honorees of the Ball, though their daughter, Lena Dunham, was notably absent. But not to worry, there were plenty of other designer-clad attendees to revel over. The editrix set in attendance included Glenda Bailey of Harper’s Bazaar, Amy Astley of Teen Vogue, and Eva Chen of Lucky, while designers Whitney Pozgay, Misha Nonoo, Tia and Fiona Cibani, Nicole Miller, and Ippolita Rostagno also turned out for the occasion. In addition there was Alan Cumming, Padma Lakshmi, Harley Viera-Newton, and Bob Colacello. Needless to say, the building was utterly packed with art-lovers, collectors, and party girls alike. Van Cleef & Arpels sponsored the eve, and they provided more than just bijoux-encrusted models. Their most recent collection inspired the bash’s theme: Nature Inspires. Thus, the fifth floor was covered in a wash of hot pink light with white floral cutouts growing from the ceiling and walls. The flora-centric theme also involved fresh floral crowns. The charitable evening raises money for scholarships for future students to attend the Academy, in addition to aiding current students and helping with the costs of public programs. A win-win for all, right? Especially those who headed home with a few new works of art.
DENA SILVER

You may also like