Nasher Prize Gala

Artful Dallas gala honors renowned sculpture artist with prestigious 2023 Nasher Prize

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

Capera Ryan, Deborah Ryan

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.

Nasher Prize galas museums

Fundraising fun

Dallas’ Night at the Museum gala brings in $2M for Perot programs

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez

On Saturday, November 8, the Perot Museum of Nature and Science opened its doors, after hours, for one of Dallas’ most anticipated galas of fall: Night at the Museum.

Photo by Tamytha Cameron

Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez

Led by co-chairs Shelly and Michael Dee in honor of Sally and Forrest Hoglund, the 2025 Night at the Museum immersed guests in a science-y wonderland of interactive exhibits, fun cocktails, unique cuisine, and more.

Guests agreed: The couldn't-miss highlight of the evening was the 10-Minute Restaurant, which transformed the museum gift shop into a five-star culinary adventure by Wolfgang Puck Catering, reminiscent of how they serve celebrities at the Oscars. Amid all the night's action, it was a great way to sneak in a quick bite and some one-on-one time with a date in a VIP-like setting.

Attendees also noshed from a Living Crudité Bar, an Off the Bone beef station, a paella station, enjoyed "roaming tiramisu," and stopped servers in their tracks for the famous Night at the Museum pot pies. No one went thirsty, either, as guests sipped creative cocktails like Sorbete de Sangria de Cava and the sparkling “Aqua Pearl,” enjoyed a 196 Vodka Seltzer Bar, and a refueled at a coffee cart that opened at the after-party.

Guests got to dig like paleontologists at the Paleo Lab, ooh and ahh at the sparking Aquamarine on the display in the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall, and learn all about little creepy-crawlies in the Bug Lab Exhibit. Another favorite activity was the Iris Photography, which turned photos of the human eye into works of art.

In total, the crowd of "after-hours scientists" raised $2 million to help fund field trips, outreach, discounted admission and memberships to the Perot, and more.

Among the notable attendees were Margot Perot, Dr. Linda Silver, Marilynn Thoma, Carl Thoma, Santiago Jorba, Catalina Gonzalez, David and Mary Henderson, Katie and Jerome Rose, Lyda Hill, Cade McCarter, DeWitt McCarter, Kelly Compton, Kenna McCarter, John Sughrue, Marlene Sughrue, Kate and Steve Sigfusson, Kristina Kirkenaer-Hart, Grace Cook, Laura Compton, Angus Mitchell, Rachel Mitchell, Martine and Michael Philippe, and many more patrons and supporters.

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