Art Meets Action: ARTWALK NY's Triumphant Night

On Tuesday November 4th, while New York City was abuzz around election night, in the center of midtown Manhattan, hundreds gathered for the Coalition for the Homeless’ ARTWALK NY, the city’s premier art and fundraising gala, presented by corporate sponsor Max Mara. At The Grill | The Pool inside the iconic Seagram Building, compassionate and generous New Yorkers came together and raised nearly $1.2 million for the Coalition for the Homeless.

The evening featured acclaimed artist Sheree Hovsepian as the Artist Honoree, and Michelle Hellman, founder of the Artist Plate Project, as the Philanthropic Honoree – recognizing the profound impact of the arts community in supporting vital work for New Yorkers in need. In fact, over the past five years, the Artist Plate Project has grossed roughly $8 million in support for the Coalition’s 11 front line programs.

The night began with a cocktail reception in The Grill, where guests enjoyed a silent auction from the Artist Plate Project, and DJ AKU provided the ambience as attendees bid on nearly 100 unique works of art, each individually created by celebrated artists on fine bone china plates. The collection featured original plates by Cecily Brown, David Shrigley, Eddie Martinez, Hilary Pecis, Idris Khan, Jenny Holzer, Joel Mesler, José Parla, Katherine Bernhardt, KAWS, Loie Hollowell, and Yoshitomo Nara, among many others. The auction was live on The Auction Collective, and bidding continued on the silent auction until 2 PM EST on Wednesday November 5th. Exciting bidding wars erupted as the auction came to a close, resulting in an astounding $390,000 raised from plates alone.

The Coalition’s Executive Director Dave Giffen said it best when he welcomed guests to the sitdown dinner, saying, “At a time when hunger and homelessness are increasing so dramatically, all of us at the Coalition for the Homeless are thankful that there are people like Michelle Helman, Sheree Hovsepian, and all of the artists who give so much of their time and talent to helping New Yorkers in need. These amazing artist plates are really a perfect metaphor for illustrating the commitment of the arts community to making sure that the poorest among us have food on their table, clothes on their backs, and a roof over their heads. The $8 million raised by the Artist Plate Project over the past five years has already had an immense impact on the lives of homeless New Yorkers, and this year’s ARTWALK NY is such a wonderful opportunity to save even more lives.”

Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Dave Giffen with artist honoree Sheree Hovsepian, and philanthropic honoree Michelle Hellman. Neil Rasmus/BFA.com

During dinner, artist Rashid Johnson presented honors to his wife and fellow artist Sheree Hovsepian for her continued artistry, activism, and philanthropic efforts. As “Sherry” by the Four Seasons played, Hovsepian walked up to accept her recognition. “I’m deeply honored to be recognized tonight by the Coalition for the Homeless and ARTWALK NY,” she shared. “It is a reminder that art is not only about beauty and expression, but also about empathy and action.”

Following that, philanthropic honoree Michelle Hellman, while accepting her award, reflected on the compassion she has witnessed, saying, “The generosity of so many artists who’ve joined this project has moved me more than I can say. I’ve seen artists give their time, their creativity, and their hearts to help New Yorkers who are struggling simply because they believe in kindness. That kind of generosity is the real art.”

This event came to life thanks to our presenting sponsor Max Mara, and we are also deeply grateful to our other partners: UOVO | Art, Fashion, Wine, our Auction Partner The Auction Collective, and of course Major Food Group, who provided us all with an unforgettable culinary experience.

Behind the scenes, Fremont Blue Events orchestrated every detail to perfection, and our Art Advisory Board provided the vision and expertise that always elevates the gala, year after year.

When millions of Americans are on the brink of facing serious food insecurity, galas like this invite individuals to give what they can to make a difference. ARTWALK NY proves that when art meets action, transformation happens. From the artists who donated their talent, the guests who opened their hearts, and the community that showed up, we can continue helping our neighbors who need it, now more than ever.