What could possibly make the annual Two x Two Gala coming-together of Dallas' art-fashion-philanthropy worlds even more fun and fabulous? Taking it to a disco, and then to a candy land.
This year's sold-out, black-tie dinner and contemporary art auction attracted 535 guests who boogied it up to the tune of $9.4 million for the amFAR and the Dallas Museum of Art.
Hosted on October 22 by Howard and Cindy Rachofsky and John and Lisa Runyon, the 2022 Two x Two Gala went down in a "modern disco fantasy" designed by Todd Fiscus' Todd Events. Per tradition, the event was held at the Rachofsky House, under the signature 7,000-square-foot geodesic dome tent, which soars 48 feet in the center. Fiscus' team transformed into a space into the modern disco by lacing together a palette of bright colors with nature and glam textures like mirrored metals, white bleached wood, brushed brass, chartreuse, and burgundy.
As guests arrived, donning whimsical gowns and platform heels, the evening began with a Tequila Casa Dragones, La Grande Dame, and Belvedere cocktail reception and an art and luxury item silent auction. It was followed by a seated, multicourse dinner. For the first time, an all-vegan menu was served.
The Rachofskys and Runyons welcomed the invitation-only crowd, before turning things over to Dr. Anna Katherine Brodbeck, the Hoffman Family Senior Curator of Contemporary Art at the Dallas Museum of Art, who introduced patrons to honoree Rashid Johnson. AmfAR Co-Chairs of the Board, T. Ryan Greenawalt and Kevin McClatchy, presented Rashid Johnson with amfAR’s 2022 Award of Excellence for Artistic Contributions to the Fight Against AIDS.
After dinner, Nile Rodgers and CHIC entertained the crowd with a variety hits, including ”Le Freak, “ “We are Family,” and — fittingly for the disco theme — "Let's Dance."
Of course, the order of the night was raising big bucks, and that fell largely on the shoulders of auctioneer Michael Macaulay, Senior Vice President of Sotheby's. The live, contemporary art auction featured works by artists including honoree Johnson, Tunji Adeniyi-Jones, Kyle Dunn, Ulala Imai, Spencer Lewis, and Rafa Macarrón.
In all, 132 works of art were offered in the live and silent auctions, as well as a number of luxury and experiential packages. Bidders had plenty of time to prepare their paddles — the Two x Two First Look preview party was held two weeks earlier at Rachofsky House.
The party didn't stop when the bidding ceased. An after-party, presented by Nancy Rogers, rocked the back garden of The Rachofsky House until the wee hours. Also designed by Todd Events, the after-party transported the crowd to a pink candy wonderland, complete with all-pink color palette, lip motifs, “Slurp” neon signs, and an oversized lollipop for guests to pose with in the photo booth. The late-night revelers enjoyed Moët Hennessy Brandy Alexanders while dancing to the beats of DJ Lucy Wrubel. As a party favor, everyone left with a Pizzana’s best-selling pepperoni pizza by Chef Daniele Utidi.
Two x Two has become the largest fundraiser in the United States for essential AIDS research at amfAR, as well as the largest single annual source of funds for contemporary art acquisitions at the DMA; to date, the event has raised over $113 million. Through its funding, the DMA has added more than 300 major works of contemporary art to its permanent collection.
Photo by Kevin Tachman
Matthew Looney, Alexandra Looney
Notable attendees of the 2022 gala included Dirk and Jessica Nowitzki, Sheree Hovsepian, Ceron, Amanda Schufeldt, Howard Rachofsky, Kasey Lemkin, Bernard Nussbaumer, Michelle Nussbaumer, Cameron Silver, Jenny Kirtland, Coley Means, Bradley Agather Means, Gene Jones, Jerry Jones, Melissa Ireland, Charlotte Jones, Amir Rozwadowski, Haley Anderson, Christen Wilson, Kelli Ford, Jerry Ford, Lilah Ramzi, Benita Chan, Leigh Anne Clark, Maria Valim, Marc Metrick, Deborah Metrick, Mariel Sholem, Jamie Sholem, Matthew Looney, Alexandra Looney, Merrick Egan, Sara Fay Egan, Taylor Olson, Amy Phelan, Brian Bolke, Nimesh Patel, Bina Palnitkar Patel, Jamie O’Banion, Porschla Kidd, Bela Cooley, Thomas Keller, Bertha Gonzalez Nieves, Terri Provencal, Anna Meliksetian, Sheryl Adkins-Green, Esther Kim Varet, Kohshin Finley, Ryan Beal, Piper Beal, Missy Rogers Peck, Nancy Carlson, Jordan Jones, Kaleta Blaffer Johnson, John Domolky, Marguerite Hoffman, Elaine Agather, and LaQuan Smith.
