Performa’s Opening Night Gala Put On Inimitable Shows

On Nov. 1, New York’s creative cognoscenti flocked to SoHo to attend Performa’s Opening Night Gala, which kicked off the biennial’s tenth edition. The evening included one-off performances and culinary experiences revolving around the neighborhood’s rich history—guests were greeted by Fluxus performances as they entered and marveled as Gaetano Pesce’s studio created an eight-foot-tall resin chandelier in a live workshop. The evening paid tribute to gallerist Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, a Performa board member and board chair; artist Derrick Adams for his participation in three Performa editions; and Pesce, whose illustrious six-decade career mirrors Performa’s experimental ethos. Afterwards, the Artist Party lit up the Performa Hub, a mixed-use piece of “instant architecture” designed by architect Assaf Kimmel. The evening raised half a million dollars for the pathbreaking organization. Notable attendees include Connie Butler, Shirin Neshat, Marilyn Minter, Cindy Sherman, Nate Berkus, Julien Creuzet, Laurie Simmons, Maurizio Cattelan, Moses Sumney, Dustin Yellin, Kimberly Drew, and more. Photos by Deonté Lee/BFA.