Above: Rashid Johnson | Seascape Reflections in Blue.
The Norton Museum of Art’s forty-ninth annual Gala will honor contemporary artist Rashid Johnson and celebrate the dynamic boxing-focused exhibition Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing. Taking place February 1, 2025, the evening will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing, and a live auction hosted in partnership with Sotheby’s and hosted by EVP | Chairman, Europe Oliver Barker. The auction, now in its sixth year, will showcase more than 40 works of art by pre-eminent artists from some of the world’s leading galleries. Online bidding will be available to the public at Sothebys.com beginning on January 24 and will close on February 3. In advance of bidding, works will be available to view in person for the duration of the auction at the Norton Museum of Art and online starting January 17. All auction proceeds benefit the Norton’s curatorial, learning, and community engagement programs.
The Norton Museum of Art’s decision to honor Rashid Johnson at this year’s Gala marks the first time the Museum has honored an artist at the event. Both the Norton’s Board of Trustees and curatorial leaders are drawn to Johnson’s conceptual contemporary work and purposeful creation of a unique visual language through his mixed medium portfolio. Johnson is a powerful generational voice, and the Norton is proud to have two major works by him entering the Museum’s Collection next year: Bruise Painting “There I Go,” 2022, and Stacked Heads, 2020, a large cast bronze sculpture. Johnson’s If It Ain’t Ruff, 2012, is featured in the exhibition Strike Fast, Dance Lightly: Artists on Boxing, on loan from the Beth Rudin DeWoody collection.
“Rashid Johnson’s visionary work sets a perfect tone for our Gala celebration and makes him the ideal person to be the first artist honored at this event,” said Ghislain d’Humières, Kenneth C. Griffin Director and CEO. “We are grateful to Gala Co-Chairs Audrey Gruss, Amy Phelan, and Sue Wrigley for their leadership and vision, which has provided the opportunity to recognize Johnson’s contributions to the international contemporary art oeuvre. While just one evening, this annual event’s proceeds will support the vital work the Norton contributes to the West Palm Beach community annually and beyond.”
Several lots will be auctioned live by Sotheby’s at the Gala on February 1, including a work by honoree Rashid Johnson. The live and online auctions will also include works by contemporary artists such as Jose Alvarez (D.O.P.A.), Joana Choumali, Awol Erizku, Christiane Feser, Todd Gray, Katharina Grosse, Sol LeWitt, Zanele Muholi, Joel Mesler, Claes Oldenburg, Anastasia Samoylova, Dustin Yellin, and more. Collectors unable to attend the Gala may bid on the live lots absentee or by phone. Absentee and phone bidders must register in advance by emailing [email protected] by January 30. All auction proceeds support the Norton in fulfilling its artistic and educational mission.
Palm Beach County has a flourishing art scene that has attracted many notable blue-chip art galleries and top collectors in recent years. The Norton’s prior Gala auctions have drawn global interest, with bidders and buyers from Saudi Arabia, France, Israel, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Hong Kong, and beyond. The Norton has worked closely with several international galleries throughout the history of the Gala auction, with this year’s roster including Hauser & Wirth, Gagosian, GAVLAK, Marian Goodman Gallery, Lehmann Maupin, Lévy Gorvy Dayan, Pace Gallery, Tina Kim Gallery, and many more.
The 2025 Gala Co-Chairs are Audrey Gruss, Amy Phelan, and Sue Wrigley. The 2025 Gala Vice Chairs include Lori Gendelman, Lorna James, Josephine Kalisman, Nicola Marcus, George Frederick Mead Merck, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Lisa Tananbaum, and Silvia Zoullas.
The 2025 Gala Auction was made possible by the generosity of Sotheby’s.
Additional support was provided by Gander & White and Valentine Designs. This year’s unique black and white evening will be designed and curated by internationally renowned event producer David Monn.
