The American Friends of the Louvre Gathered in New York

As the Louvre stares down a six year, $800 million renovation, some of its most ardent stateside supporters—the American Friends of the Louvre—gathered at the Rainbow Room on May 4 for the organization’s largest gala ever. The philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting the Louvre and the advancement of French culture in the United States honored the designer Mathieu Lehanneur—who created the torch and cauldron for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games. Select guests were invited to Lehanneur’s pied-à-terre and showroom for cocktails before the gala, hosted by Christopher Forbes and Thomas Moore III, where Lehanneur received the American Friends of the Louvre’s 2025 Coeur d’Art Award. Notables in attendance included Cêdrik Fouriscot, Mohamed Bouabdallah, Phyllis Kao, Elizabeth Segerstrom, Laurent Bili, Yannick Lebrun, Joshua Bell, Alton Murray, Leila Jean, and more. Photo credit: Hippolyte Petit/BFA