It was a reunion of sorts for the A-list patrons who returned to Brooklyn art hub Pioneer Works on Wednesday for a benefit in honor of the Brand New Heavies exhibition, which has taken over the ground floor of the Red Hook warehouse space through June 20th, and in support of the nonprofit's artist residency program.

While the likes of Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Sarsgaard, Darren Aronofsky, and Dustin Yellin are regular attendees of the annual Village Fete, the cultural center's beloved main event and usual highlight of our spring social calendar, this week they returned for a soiree that was slightly more intimate but, after last year's COVID cancellation, was still a welcome chance to socialize (maskless!) and catch up after more than a year.

And catching up was indeed on the agenda. Guests including Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri, David Byrne, and Gabriela Hearst rubbed elbows over cocktails and an al fresco dinner prepared by chef Kia Damon, held in Pioneer Works' dreamy outdoor garden. Brand New Heavies co-curators Mickalene Thomas and Racquel Chevremont, along with artist Abigail DeVille, were in attendance as the night's guests of honor, while musical guests TYGAPAW, Meshell Ndegeocello, and Sneaks were on hand to welcome us back to the age of live, in-person performances against the backdrop of the monumental installations.

In addition to art, music, and food, fashion was of course one of the evening's main events. With an official dress code of "Spring Maximalism," and sponsors including Gucci and the Ford Foundation, it was as stylish of an event as one would expect.

Click through for an inside look!

[Photos courtesy Pioneer Works]

The Guest List

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David Byrne• Peter Sarsgaard• Maggie Gyllenhaal• Dustin Yellin• Darren Aronofsky• Pioneer Works• Brand New Heavies• Pioneer Works Benefit 2021