Whitney Gala and Gordon Parks Foundation Dinner Draw Art World Elite

Artnet News's Wet Paint column reports on two major galas in New York. The Whitney Museum's annual gala on Tuesday honored artist Julie Mehretu, with guests including Jewel, Neil Patrick Harris, and Thelma Golden. The event raised $6.3 million, but current Whitney Biennial artists were not invited due to limited seating. Meanwhile, Pace Gallery announced global representation of the Brancusi estate, and Brancusi's bronze head Danaïde (1913) sold for $107.6 million at Christie's. Across town, the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Dinner honored Henry Taylor and Chance the Rapper, with performances by Jason Moran and a video call from Pharrell. Colin Kaepernick presented an award to Lonnie Ali. Later, Mehretu attended a dance piece by John Jasperse at Marian Goodman Gallery. Other news: Irina Shayk bought a Jenna Gribbon painting at TEFAF New York; Peter Doig DJ'd at Tramps Bar in London; and The Last Ship musical starring Sting and Shaggy will run at the Met Opera.