MoMA PS1’s 50th Anniversary Gala Honors Heiss and Lowry

MoMA PS1 celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala on Tuesday night, drawing over 500 guests. The event honored founding director Alanna Heiss and former MoMA Director Glenn D. Lowry. Artistic direction was provided by the fashion and art collective Women’s History Museum, who transformed the museum into a Surrealist childhood birthday party with stilt walkers, custom posters, and performers. Guests entered through an immersive step-and-repeat of archival PS1 posters, then enjoyed sunset cocktails in the courtyard and explored upstairs galleries with bespoke graphics. The crowd included arts leaders Robert and Jamie Singer Soros, Michi Jigarjian, Sarah Arison, Carla Shen, MoMA PS1 Director Connie Butler, Chief Curator Ruba Katrib, dealers Jeffrey Deitch and Thor Shannon, writers Erik Maza, Nate Freeman, and Jeppe Ugelvig, artists Camille Henrot, Miles Greenberg, and Wolfgang Tillmans, and musician Swizz Beatz. The afterparty featured a variety show: experimental pianist Precious Renee Tucker performed live, DJ Miss Parker played a vinyl set, DJ Fashion continued with bass-heavy tracks, and the G-Strings dance troupe performed, styled by Women’s History Museum. Executive Chef DeVonn Francis created a contemporary Caribbean menu with poached hake and crab rice, black curry chicken, curried eggplant, oxtail beignets, and cauliflower pavé. The gala included triumphant speeches and ample champagne.