NEW YORK CITY — Fans of American folk art gathered at Gotham Hall on Thursday, October 15, to celebrate individuals who have given unstintingly of themselves in support of the American Folk Art Museum, a fixture on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
Honorees Jerry Lauren, Laura Parsons and Arthur Hoffman, representing the Leir Charitable Foundation, with Dr Anne-Imelda Radice.
With their husbands Jonathan Fielding and Irwin Warren, museum trustees Karin Barter Fielding and Elizabeth V. Warren hosted the Jazz Age-themed evening of drinks, dinner and dancing at Gotham Hall on Broadway at 36th Street.
The gala honored Jerry Lauren, the Leir Charitable Foundations and Laura Parsons. Lauren, a collector of American folk and self-taught art, is executive vice president of the Ralph Lauren Corporation, where he is creative director for men’s design. Parsons is chairman of the American Folk Art Museum’s board of trustees. Arthur Hoffman accepted the award on behalf of the Leir Charitable Foundations.
Jerry Lauren and Sotheby’s American folk art expert Nancy Druckman.
Nancy Druckman of Sotheby’s and Darren Walker of the Ford Foundation were among the evening’s 350 guests. John Hays of Christie’s called the charity auction benefiting museum programs.
Guests, some in Jazz Age attire, enjoyed music by the JC Hopkins Biggish Band.
The American Folk Art Museum collects, interprets and exhibits self-taught art, historic to contemporary. It recently opened a new facility in Long Island City and saw attendance rise to 150,000 over the past year.
Christie’s John Hays called the benefit auction.
The American Folk Art Museum is at 2 Lincoln Square in New York City. For information, www.folkartmuseum.org or 212-595-9533.
