What: 2023 Nasher Prize Gala

Where: Nasher Sculpture Center

The 411: More than 300 ardent arts patrons gathered April 1 for the bestowing of Dallas' most prestigious art award, the Nasher Prize. Chaired by Mary McDermott Cook and Grace Cook, the 2023 gala honored laureate Senga Nengudi. The Nasher Prize is an international award presented to a living artist whose work has had an extraordinary impact on the understanding of sculpture.

Attendees were welcomed by Nasher Sculpture Center director Jeremy Strick for an elegant evening of cocktails, conversation, gourmet dinner, live entertainment by Dallas Black Dance Theatre's Nycole Ray and vocalist Damon K. Clark, and, of course, the awarding of the Nasher Prize.

The night started with an alfresco reception in the sculpture garden. At the appointed hour, guests made their way to a nearby tent outfitted with draped florals, earth tones, and mountain-inspired elements as a tribute to the evening's honoree.

Nengudi, a Chicago native, worked as an artist in New York and Los Angeles before settling down in Colorado Springs to teach at the University of Colorado, from which she recently retired. Read more about her illustrious career, artistic works, and accomplishments here.

Nancy Nasher presented Nengudi (accompanied by her family) the Travertine marble award, designed by Renzo Piano and made from the predominant material of the Nasher Sculpture Center. Wearing a gold sequin shawl and a bright light on her crown, Nengudi said her attire was a sartorial salute to her friends, family, and colleagues who have followed the “yellow brick road” alongside her throughout her career.

After Nengudi's acceptance speech, partygoers retreated to an Afro Mingei-inspired after-party, where DJ Christy Ray and DJ Sober spun tunes and kept the festivities going into the late-night hours.

Photo by Jonathan Zizzo, A Sea of Love, and Can Turk

Kelly Cornell, Jack Cornell

Who: Notable guests and patrons included David Haemisegger, Kenny Goss, Joyce Goss, Jeff Netzer, Lynn McBee, Laura Wilson, Jessica Nowitzki, Daniel Stone, Whitney West, Megan Bowdon-Wilkinson, Joey Wilkinson, Abril Cisneros Ramirez, Emiliano Cisneros Alvarez, Alysia Nicole Harris, Arjen Mellink, Adriana Perales, Guillermo Perales, Ben Trowbridge, Maxine Trowbridge, Capera Ryan, Deborah Ryan, Brian Gogel, Claire Gogel, Ethan Minshull, Andrea Perez-Minshull, Gowri Sharma, Alex Sharma, Kelly Cornell, Jack Cornell, Liz Schaab, Timmons Gray, Zoe Roden, Macaella Gray, and hundreds more.