It’s the 12th annual Brooklyn Artists Ball. Taffeta rustles while buttery satin soaks up the light from the candlelit fixtures adorning its tables. There is the usual constellation of Hollywood stars: Tracee Ellis Ross, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Christian Serratos, and Thomas Doherty. Then you’ve got the art world A-listers: Dustin Yellin, Carla Shen, Duke Riley, KAWS, and Antwaun Sargent. 

Hundreds of guests gather to celebrate the multidisciplinary artist Carrie Mae Weems. Weems, clad in a metalized gold-tone ensemble clutching a Miss Dior Mini Bag in Cloud Blue, radiates ebullience as she poses for a photo. While you may not be there in person, the energy from the event pierces through the photographs taken, emanating an endearing warmth. 

Her larger-than-life grin seems appropriate considering the splendid evening, and no, that doesn’t refer to the event itself—although, yes, it was luxurious in every sense of the word—the smile, instead, reflects the accolades the event is commemorating. For one, it honored Weems’ decades-long legacy that brought viewers into the intimate lived experiences of the women captured through the lens of her camera.  

“How do you measure a life? It’s a big question for sure,” pondered Weems. “As I stand on this stage . . . I can measure my life by the extension of your friendship, your love, your generosity.”

While being the 12th rendition of the Brooklyn Artists Ball, this year carries a different context as it marks the beginning of a partnership between the Museum and Dior. Maria Grazia Chiuri, also a woman and a creative, took to positioning the famed French fashion house as the event’s new lead sponsor. 

It started with the sensational exhibition “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” in 2021, then progressed with the Artists Ball in 2022. Honoring Dior’s Creative Director of women’s haute couture, ready-to-wear, and accessories collections, last year’s Artists Ball signified a step further in solidifying an enduring relationship between the institution and the famed fashion house.  

Attendees set the night into motion with a cocktail hour in the museum’s lobby, reimagined by artist and Brooklyn Museum Trustee Mickalene Thomas. A lavish dinner and exchange of remarks charged with emotion ensued. Anne Pasternak, Shelby White, and Leon Levy, Director of the Brooklyn Museum, took the stage, welcoming over 650 guests and applauding the evening’s honoree. 

“Faced with a world shaken by inequality, division, and crisis, [Weems] sought to change our field and invited hundreds of artists to join her in magnifying the potential for cultural and social change.”

As with all things related to the House of Dior, the dinner went out with a bang, featuring a soulful performance by Celeste. That’s just the appetizer. Charging full force into after-party mode, the event closed with an energetic set by producer, rapper, and Brooklyn Museum Trustee Swizz Beatz. That’s not all. Guests also enjoyed exclusive after-hours access to the gallery and artist-led activations throughout the museum. And as the cherry on top, a photo booth by artist Shaniqwa Jarvis offered attendees the opportunity to make it official with a bit of flash photography commemoration. 

Then there’s the matter of the $2.8M raised at the event. That’s $400,000 up from last year. What these seven digits pose for the museum translates to funds that make it possible for its special exhibitions, reimagined collection galleries, and public programming to grow in size and vibrance. 

Keep scrolling to get a sneak peek into the evening’s happenings.