Each years individuals and organisations that have made a sustained commitment to the artistic and cultural heritage of the arts in America are honored with an original artwork commissioned from an American artist. This year at the 22nd Annual American Art Awards, held in New York City, artist Anne Colller created the works which were presented to the honorees at a gala dinner.
This year’s honorees were: Reed Krakoff (pictured above), the Creative Director of his own eponymous brand and Coach, who is a fervent art collector, supporter of artists and art collections, including the Whitney; Martin Z. Margulies, a Miami-based collector, and founder of the Martin Z. Margulies Foundation, who recently made a $5 millions bequest to the Whitney; The Robert Mapplethorpe Foundation, which supports the Whitney exhibitions and programs, and recently pledged a $500,000 gift to the Capital Campaign; and Michael Ward Stout, the founding partner of the New York law firm Stout Thomas & Johnson, and a tireless advocate for artists and curators.
The evening included a special performance by Martha Wainwright at the Highline Stages, and an auction of Reed Krakoff tote bags which raised a total of $16,500.
