A Scene Of Mermaids, Sailors & Chanel: Inside Art Production Fund's Cruise-Themed Gala

by Guest of A Guest · March 18, 2024

There is simply no more interesting a party to people watch than Art Production Fund's annual gala, sponsored by Saks. Over three hundred art world notables, fashion favorites, screen and stage stars, and philanthropy scene staples including Debby Harry, Huma Abedin, Drew Barrymore, Isolde Brielmaier and Indre Rockefeller found themselves at The Pool Thursday evening, helping raise more than $850,000 in support of the organization's amazing public art commissions.

Always the festive fête, this year's cruise-themed soirée called for Overboard attire. As ever, the crowd did not disappoint - a school of shimmering mermaids here, a crew of designer sailors there, a flock of tweed Chanel cruise collection looks everywhere. Of course for every person who was like, 'I'm on a boat!' there were just as many, 'I'm serious and I wear black and don't do themes,' but hey, that's New Yorkers for you. And honestly, Cynthia Rowley wore one of her wetsuits, so really no one could have participated and she'd have picked up their sartorial slack.

Following a Pina colada-filled cocktail hour, a seafood feast beckoned - tables set with shrimp cocktail and crudité, smoked salmon, blinis and Carbone’s signature lobster ravioli and individually embroidered windbreakers serving as place cards. In between courses, entertainment came in the form of a performance commission by artist Shikeith titled “Visiting Hours,” which saw some guests sat in the splash zone, and an auction of works by Dominique Fung, Joel Mesler and more.

Curious to see who wore what?

Isolde Brielmaier, Yvonne Force Villareal, Sharon Coplan, Cynthia Rowley