Aspen Art Museum's 2026 ArtCrush Gala Raises $4M, Honors Adrián Villar Rojas

The Aspen Art Museum hosted its 21st annual ArtCrush gala at Buttermilk Mountain, honoring Argentine artist Adrián Villar Rojas and his exhibition 'First Gods, Lost Animals,' which will be on display until April 11, 2027. Director Nicola Lees awarded Villar Rojas the 2026 Lewis Family Art Award. The evening raised $4 million through a global auction, benefiting the museum's free exhibitions and programs. Villar Rojas unveiled a two-floor installation, co-commissioned by the museum and Audemars Piguet, during Aspen Art Week, addressing themes of the digital present and uncertain future. The gala, led by patrons Sarah Arison and Charlie Pohlad, attracted notable attendees, including filmmakers and artists. The auction featured works by Xinyi Cheng, Sayre Gomez, and Villar Rojas, along with an online auction of pieces by Leonora Carrington and George Condo, in partnership with Rowland+Broughton. The 2026 AIR Festival, themed 'Figures in a Landscape,' drew inspiration from the stunning alpine scenery, with the event captured by photographers Jason Sean Weiss and Zach Hilty.