Sep 14, 2023 In partnership with Architectural Digest and Phillips, the evening commemorated the opening of Annie Leibovitz at Work Olivia Walton, Alice Walton, Annie Leibovitz, Awol Erizku Download high-resolution images. Photos by Shane Drummond/BFA.com. BENTONVILLE, AR — On Thursday, September 14, Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art celebrated its second-ever fundraiser, The Party, which was co-chaired by Olivia Walton, Annie Leibovitz, Alice Walton, and Awol Erizku. The evening, which was presented in partnership with Architectural Digest and Phillips, brought together guests from the worlds of art, fashion, business, entertainment, and philanthropy to raise funds for the museum’s art education programs. The Party celebrated Annie Leibovitz At Work, the legendary photographer’s major exhibition opening at Crystal Bridges on September 16. Inspired by Leibovitz’s vast oeuvre, the acclaimed party planner Van Wyck & Van Wyck made direct nods to the artist, mixing high and low, casual and opulent, and expected and unexpected details, such as a staged photo set mimicking the likes of Leibovitz’s famed portraits and budding florals only imaginable in the luscious grounds of the heartland. NOTABLE GUESTS included: Annie Leibovitz, Alice Walton, Olivia Walton, Awol Erizku, Camilla Belle, Jeremy O’Harris, Hank Willis Thomas, John Tyson, Olivier de Givenchy, Kelly Walton, Lukas Walton, Deborah Willis, Ana Laspetkovsk, Rachel Matthews, Porschla Coleman Kidd, Jordan Watts, and more. Guests arrived at Crystal Bridges for a cocktail reception while the dance floor came alive with sets by Alex Cruz. Special remarks were made by Crystal Bridges Executive Director and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Rod Bigelow and museum Chair Olivia Walton followed by a special auction hosted by Phillip’s own Sarah Krueger. Guests were given the opportunity to peruse the museum’s vast galleries and view the exhibition throughout the evening. Comprised of new and rarely-seen recent photographs integrated with many images made during Leibovitz’s legendary career, which spans half a century, Annie Leibovitz at Work is the artist’s first major museum exhibition in a decade. It is a personal view of a body of work famous for the number of important public figures who are part of it: artists, actors, musicians, politicians, athletes, architects, business leaders. Included are portraits of Amy Sherald, Cindy Sherman, Lizzo, LeBron James, Elon and Maye Musk, Presidents Obama and Biden, Rihanna, Faith Ringgold, Dolly Parton, Shonda Rhimes, Tom Ford, Mickalene Thomas, Rachel Maddow, Simone Leigh, Webb Telescope, and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. The images in the show are seen in prints on paper and on high-tech digital display screens. ### About Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art The mission of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art is to welcome all to celebrate the American spirit in a setting that unites the power of art with the beauty of nature. Since opening in 2011, the museum has welcomed more than 10.8 million visitors across its spaces, with no cost for admission. Crystal Bridges was founded in 2005 as a non-profit charitable organization by arts patron and philanthropist, Alice Walton. The collection spans five centuries of American masterworks from early American to current day and is enhanced by temporary exhibitions. The museum is nestled on 120 acres of Ozark landscape and was designed by world-renowned architect Moshe Safdie. A rare Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house was preserved and relocated to the museum grounds in 2015. Crystal Bridges offers public programs including lectures, performances, classes, and teacher development opportunities. Some 300,000 school children have participated in the Willard and Pat Walker School Visit program, which provides educational experiences for school groups at no cost to the schools. Additional museum amenities include a restaurant, gift store, library, and five miles of art and walking trails. In February 2020, the museum opened the Momentary in Downtown Bentonville (507 SE E Street), conceived as a platform for the art, food, and music of our time. For more information, visit CrystalBridges.org. The museum is located at 600 Museum Way, Bentonville, Arkansas 72712.
