The Guggenheim’s 2026 Annual Benefit, Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries, Honored Artist Alex Katz and His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi

The Guggenheim celebrated its 2026 benefit, Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries. The annual fundraiser honored His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, and artist Alex Katz. The evening paid a special tribute to the late Frank Gehry. The funds raised from Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries support the Guggenheim’s acclaimed exhibitions, dynamic education programs, and the preservation of its collection and landmark building.

Held in the museum’s iconic Frank Lloyd Wright–designed rotunda, the event began with a cocktail reception featuring an exhibition viewing of Taryn Simon: Father Country I Do Love You. J. Tomilson Hill, Chair of the Board of Trustees opened the evening with a welcome followed by Melissa Chiu, the newly appointed Director of the Guggenheim Museum, New York, who toasted to exhibiting artist Taryn Simon and introduced a celebratory video salute to Alex Katz, whose remarkable contributions to the cultural landscape reflect the Guggenheim’s enduring commitment to artistic innovation. Katz’s relationship with the Guggenheim was cemented through the landmark 2022–2023 retrospective Alex Katz: Gathering, a defining chapter in the museum’s engagement with postwar American painting. Beyond his influential practice, Katz is admired for his longstanding support of the cultural community through cross-disciplinary collaborations, philanthropy, and advocacy for fellow artists.

Later in the evening, Wendy Fisher, President of the Board of Trustees, then made a moving tribute to the late Frank Gehry, whose singular, sculptural building transformed the city of Bilbao into a landmark cultural destination, and whose last major museum project, the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, carries that ambition forward. Mariët Westermann, Director and CEO of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation closed out the program with a special thank you to and honoring of His Excellency Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi. Al Mubarak’s leadership has been instrumental in bringing Guggenheim Abu Dhabi to life, advancing Abu Dhabi’s role as a global platform for cultural exchange and artistic innovation. This recognition was especially meaningful this year as the Guggenheim looks toward the December opening of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a significant milestone in the Foundation’s international vision.

The dinner concluded with a special performance by acclaimed singer, songwriter, and performer Janelle Monáe.

Guests in attendance who came to support the Guggenheim Museum and Foundation included Mohamed Abushahab, Her Excellency Amna Almheiri, Richard Armstrong, Myriam Ben-Salah, Lisa Dennison, Marc Glimcher, Tina Kim, Meghan Lloyd, Dorinda Medley, Samira Nasr, Marc Payot, Jordan Roth, Adam Silver, and Eden Xu-Martinez. Artists in attendance included Leonardo Drew, Jeffrey Gibson, Alteronce Gumby, Jamian Juliano-Villani, Deana Lawson, Glenn Ligon, Kylie Manning, Oscar Murillo, Marc Quinn, Taryn Simon, and Avery Singer.

As the museum’s signature annual fundraising event, the benefit greatly supports the advancement of an array of internationally acclaimed exhibitions, educational programs, and forward-thinking initiatives, while honoring the visionary individuals and organizations who share the Guggenheim’s dedication to building a brighter future for all.

2026 Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries cochairs are Lisa Baker, Abigail and Joseph Baratta, Caroline and Paul Cronson, Wendy Fisher, Guggenheim Partners, Andrew Gundlach, Hauser & Wirth, Janine and J. Tomilson Hill, Phyllis and Bill Mack, Jessica and Brian Robinson, Susy and Jack Wadsworth, and Frank Yu. Vice-chairs are Gail and Al Engelberg, Larry Gagosian, Peter O. Lawson-Johnston, Sr., and Mariët Westermann and Charles Pardoe. The Host Committee of Under the Oculus is composed of Bloomberg Philanthropies, Maggie Grise and Adam Silver, and Pace Gallery.

Special thanks to Maison Ruinart.

About the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation

The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation was established in 1937 and is dedicated to promoting the understanding and appreciation of modern and contemporary art through exhibitions, education programs, research initiatives, and publications. The international constellation of museums includes the Guggenheim New York; the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, Venice; the Guggenheim Bilbao; and the future Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. A “temple of spirit” where radical art and architecture meet, the Guggenheim New York is among a group of eight Frank Lloyd Wright structures in the United States designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. To learn more about the Guggenheim New York and the Guggenheim’s activities around the world, visit guggenheim.org.

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