On Wednesday, October 29, Aperture celebrated its 2025 Gala in the Appel Room of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City. The elegant annual benefit raised over $1 million, essential funding that sustains and advances Aperture’s established history of supporting artists and creating landmark publications. The joyful evening honored art and cultural historian Sarah Lewis, artist Tyler Mitchell, and Vision & Justice in recognition of their collective and dynamic impact on culture through their influential advocacy, art, and scholarship. Looking toward the year ahead, the benefit also toasted Aperture’s move to a permanent new home on the Upper West Side in 2026.

Aperture Board of Trustees with Tyler Mitchell and Sarah Lewis

Gala cochairs were Dr. Kathryn Beal, Dawoud Bey, Agnes Gund and Catherine Gund, Judy and Leonard Lauder, Jon Stryker and Slobodan Randjelović, Hank Willis Thomas, Olivia Walton, and Deborah Willis. To introduce the esteemed honorees, Deborah Willis saluted Tyler Mitchell, and Dr. Chelsea Clinton, Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation, presented Sarah Lewis.

Complementing the inspiring program and the spirit of the venue, the Wynton Marsalis Quartet delighted guests with a surprise musical performance. A live auction expertly animated by Sarah Krueger, Head of Photographs at Phillips, featured prints by five major artists who have been central to Aperture’s past and present: Kwame Brathwaite, Lee Friedlander, Lyle Ashton Harris, Wendy Red Star, and Carrie Mae Weems. Additional funds were raised through bidding on two exclusive works of art: a limited-edition copy of Tyler Mitchell’s book Wish This Was Real (Aperture, 2025), bound with custom metallic covers and posters, and a specially commissioned photograph of Aperture’s new home at 380 Columbus Avenue by acclaimed photographer Gail Albert Halaban, known for her luminous images of cities at night. 

Tyler Mitchell

Catherine Gund, Dawoud Bey, Sarah Lewis, Sarah Meister, Tyler Mitchell

Leigh Raiford, Sarah Lewis, Deborah Willis, Coreen Simpson, Michael Famighetti

Dr. Kathryn Beal, Tyler Mitchell, Sarah Meister, Yesim Philip

Mary Ellen Goeke, Cathy Kaplan, Thomas Schiff​, Sarah Meister

Slobodan Randjelovic, Tyler Mitchell, Catherine Gund, Biljana Simic

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Guests were addressed by New York City Council Member Gale A. Brewer, with a rally of appreciation for Aperture’s work and excitement around the 2026 move to the Upper West Side. Joining the festivities were a host of artists who have collaborated with Aperture on publications and programs in support of their work over the years, including David Alekhuogie, Tina Barney, Dawoud Bey, McKayla Chandler, Awol Erizku, Ethan James Green, Lyle Ashton Harris, Balarama Heller, Rashid Johnson, Susan Meiselas, Anastasia Samoylova, Antwaun Sargent, Coreen Simpson, Ming Smith, Wendy Red Star, Alex Webb, Rebecca Norris Webb, and Deborah Willis. 

Kellie McLaughlin, Judy Lauder, Bonnie Lautenberg, Sarah MeisterDr. Bruce M. Halpryn, Chas RiebeSarah Meister, Rashid Johnson, Sarah Lewis, Catherine GundMichael Famighetti, David Alekhuogie, Coreen Simpson, Awol ErizkuHank Willis Thomas, Deborah WillisGail Albert Halaban, Dr. Stephen W. NicholasChelsea Clinton, Sarah LewisHelen Mitchell, Tyler MitchellLisa Rosenblum, Allan Chapin, Nina RosenblumKatie Adams Schaeffer, Peter Barbur, Tim Doody, Stuart Cooper

Proceeds from the gala and auction sustain Aperture’s work as a nonprofit leader in the field of photography, including its award-winning publications, educational initiatives, touring exhibitions, and public programming. Aperture relies on contributions not only from the gala but also from dedicated readers and enthusiasts, and gratefully accepts donations of any amount through aperture.org/support.

Sarah Meister, Wynton Marsalis, Sarah Lewis, Tyler Mitchell, Ming SmithPauline Vermare, Andrew Lewin, Kristen LubbenSarah LewisTyler Mitchell, Anastasia SamoylovaWynton MarsalisWynton Marsalis

Aperture thanks all of the 2025 Gala supporters, including Aperture Legacy Stars: Thomas R. Schiff and Mary Ellen Goeke, Jon Stryker and Slobodan Randjelović, and Olivia Walton; Minor White Visionaries: Dr. Kathryn Beal, Agnes Gund and Catherine Gund, Dr. Bruce M. Halpryn and Chas Riebe, Judy and Leonard Lauder, Lisa Rosenblum and Georgina Celebic; Dorothea Lange Leaders: Peter Barbur and Tim Doody, Allan and Anna Chapin, Mark Gimbel and Dede Welles, Ingram Content Group, Elizabeth and William Kahane, Cathy M. Kaplan and Renwick D. Martin, Melissa and James O’Shaughnessy, and Yesim and Dusty Philip; and Ansel Adams Advocates: Bloomberg Philanthropies, S. B. Cooper and R. L. Besson, Terry Hermanson, Florian Koenigsberger, Leica Camera USA, Alice Walton, and Casey Weyand.

Thanks to those who made the live auction possible, including Phillips, along with the Kwame Brathwaite Archive, Fraenkel Gallery, Lyle Ashton Harris, Wendy Red Star and Sargent’s Daughters, and Carrie Mae Weems. The Self-Portrait Project installed a fun photo booth for guests in the reception. Images from the evening posted on BFA.com.

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