The fashion and art worlds came together on Wednesday evening at The Pool + The Grill in the iconic Seagram Building to celebrate El Museo del Barrio’s annual gala. This year’s event was a tribute to the late Tony Bechara, a Puerto Rican artist and longtime New Yorker who passed away on his 83rd birthday earlier this year.
Known for his vibrant geometric abstractions, Bechara was a prominent figure in the 1970s art scene and later became a passionate advocate for Latin American and Caribbean artists. During his tenure as chairman of El Museo from 2000 to 2015, he expanded the museum’s focus to embrace Latinx identity across the diaspora, beyond just Puerto Rican art.
In a time when Latino communities in the United States are facing growing challenges, the gala took on a special significance. With immigrant populations under increasing political scrutiny, honoring Latinx culture and its contributions to the American tapestry felt not only poignant but also urgent.
The evening began with a speech from Senator Chuck Schumer expressing his ongoing support for the Latino community. El Museo board chair Karla Harwich and executive director Patrick Charpenel set the tone for the night, leading up to a stirring poem from U.S. presidential inaugural poet Richard Blanco. Stanley T. Stairs accepted an award on behalf of Bechara, and soprano Larisa Martínez closed the program with a moving performance.
The gala attracted a fashionable crowd from the worlds of fashion and culture. Vogue Mexico’s Karla Martinez de Salas, a co-chair of the event, brought together a stylish group of designers, models, and editors, including Valentina Ferrer, Juana Burga, Lineisy Montero, Hiandra Martinez, Jonathan Cohen, Henry Zankov, Stephanie Suberville of Herilome, 10 Magazine USA editor Dora Fung, i-D’s Steff Yotka, and Vogue’s Laia Garcia-Furtado and Ignacio Murillo. Also in attendance were photographer Alexi Lubomirski, American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Isaac Hernández, political commentator Ana Navarro, and activist and Democratic donor Henry R. Muñoz III.
The evening was a beautiful tribute to Tony Bechara and a celebration of Latinx culture, highlighting its importance and resilience in the face of challenges.
