Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries
Courtesy of Henge
Courtesy of Andreas Simopoulos
Courtesy of Dave Benett
Courtesy of Japan Mobility Show
Courtesy of ART Cologne
Courtesy of whenobjectswork / Kate Hume
Courtesy of Ivan Erofeev
Courtesy of Stéphane ABOUDARAM - WE ARE CONTENT(S)
Courtesy of Sacha Moreau / Global Gift Gala Monaco
Courtesy of Fadi Al Shami
Courtesy of Sofia Hartmann
Courtesy of Historyhd
Courtesy of Mick De Paola
Courtesy of the artist (c) VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn 2025. Photography by Jens Ziehe.
Courtesy of Yasamine June
Courtesy of Rawisara Prachaksubhanit
Courtesy of Mariia Dred for Berlin Fashion Week
Courtesy of Michael Fousert
Courtesy of Raden Prasetya
Courtesy of Antonia Tewes
Courtesy of Antonia Tewes
Courtesy of Carlo Bazzo
Courtesy of Artem Zakharov
Courtesy of James Cochrane / Copenhagen Fashion Week SS26
Courtesy of Fashion Week Studio
Courtesy of Burak Goraler / AFW
Courtesy of Antonia Tewes
Courtesy of SF / Luigi Caputo
Courtesy of Bruno Cordioli / CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Courtesy of Dubai Fashion Week / Ruzaini Official
Courtesy of Frieze Seoul 2025 / Wecap Studio
Courtesy of LecartPhotos
Courtesy of Jacopo Salvi / La Biennale di Venezia / ASAC Photo
Courtesy of Campione d’Italia’s Classic Circuit
Courtesy of Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup
Courtesy of Jochem Raat
Courtesy of Corey Watson
Courtesy of Pitti Immagine / Fragranze
Courtesy of Le Sable
Courtesy of Once Milano
Courtesy of Monaco Yacht Show
Photo by Darren Carroll/PGA of America
Courtesy of Guy Bell / British Art Fair
Photo by Sean Zanni / Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
Courtesy of Messe München GmbH / Thomas Plettenberg
Courtesy of ph G Martin-Raget/SNST
Courtesy of David Pupăză
Courtesy of Derek Rose
Courtesy of Jim Winslet
Courtesy of Millie Turner/BFI
Photo by Hugo Glendinning. Courtesy of Frieze
Courtesy of Rolex / Kurt Arrigo
Courtesy of Laura Dupuy
Courtesy of Palm Beach Show Group
Courtesy of Getty Images for Perelman Perfor
Courtesy of BFA 2025
Images credited Jason Alden courtesy of LAPADA
Courtesy of Informa Markets
Courtesy of The Qatar Boat Show
Courtesy of Getty Images for Baby2Baby
Courtesy of Jeanne Canto
Courtesy of Darian DiCianno
A
T
I
T
M
I
L
L
L
C
S
S
T
T
A
T
H
F
T
E
F
O
A
T
F
I
T
T
T
T
I
I
T
I
O
P
S
A
S
U
O
A
E
G
B
I
A
I
L
I
T
M
O
G
U
I
L
S
N
I
D
U
T
A
F
I
W
F
O
A
A
M
L
I
n the heart of Manhattan, beneath the majestic glass dome of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, high society gathered for one of the year’s most luminous evenings: the 2025 benefit gala, Under the Oculus: A Celebration of Visionaries. The event, held within Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic rotunda, paid tribute to a trio of honorees whose work transcends boundaries, artist Rashid Johnson, the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), raising $2.4 million to fund the Guggenheim’s educational and curatorial initiatives.
This year’s gala marked a poignant departure from the conventional art-world tribute, instead embracing a broader view of cultural stewardship. By spotlighting Johnson and the NBA/NBPA, the museum affirmed that visionary leadership thrives as much in artist studios and museums as it does in locker rooms and boardrooms.
Rashid Johnson, long heralded for his layered exploration of identity, race, and belonging, brought a commanding presence to the gala.
Guests were treated to an exclusive evening viewing of his exhibition, A Poem for Deep Thinkers, which transformed the museum’s ascending ramp into a meditative space filled with sculpture, painting, and performance. Johnson’s commitment extended beyond the canvas; he played a pivotal role in launching the Guggenheim’s Teen Circle program, a free membership initiative aimed at connecting NYC teens with the arts.
Alongside Johnson, the NBA and NBPA were recognized for their extensive philanthropic work. Through the NBA Foundation and other initiatives, both organizations have invested heavily in youth empowerment, career development, and community building. Their support of school-to-career programs and educational nonprofits embodies a modern ethos: using cultural capital to create tangible change.
The evening’s guests, among them artists, diplomats, designers, and cultural figures moved seamlessly through a program that reflected the night’s unifying theme of vision and uplift. A DJ set by Aku Orraca-Tetteh animated the cocktail hour, followed by a spoken word performance from poet Daemond Arrindell, setting a thoughtful tone for the dinner that followed.
The gala’s culinary experience was crafted by Marcus Samuelsson, whose three-course menu merged his signature flair with a nod to New York’s cultural richness. With candlelight dancing off the rotunda’s spiral curves, the dining experience felt both intimate and monumental. A celebration of the museum’s role as a nexus of ideas and influence.
Remarks from Guggenheim leaders, Director and CEO Mariët Westermann, Board President Wendy Fisher, and Chairman J. Tomilson Hill underscored the honorees’ contributions and how they aligned with the institution’s mission.
The event concluded with a spirited performance by Grammy Award–winning group The Roots, whose rhythmic brilliance reverberated through the rotunda, bridging tradition and innovation.
Among the elegantly dressed attendees were NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, NBPA Executive Director and former champion Andre Iguodala, and a constellation of artists including Maya Lin, Hank Willis Thomas, and Taryn Simon. Their presence reflected a widening circle of cultural dialogue. One that situates basketball and contemporary art not as parallel tracks, but as collaborators in shaping society.
Ultimately, Under the Oculus offered more than glamour. It was a testament to the Guggenheim’s evolving identity: a space where art meets activism, where cultural prestige serves not as an endpoint but as a platform. With each honoree, the museum told a story of visionaries who leverage their craft, whether visual, poetic, or athletic, to inspire, educate, and transform.
Under the soaring dome, guests shared more than a meal, they shared a glimpse of a future shaped by inclusion, collaboration, and imagination. In honoring those who see beyond the canvas or the court, the Guggenheim reaffirmed its role not just as a guardian of art history, but as a beacon of cultural progress.
