The Phillips Collection 2026 Annual Gala
The Phillips Collection Annual Gala
The Creative Spark
Friday, May 8, 2026
A tremendous thank you to our supporters and guests who joined us in celebrating the imaginative energy that animates the Phillips—from the galleries to classrooms, workshops, and the wider community.
The Phillips Collection’s Annual Gala proceeds directly support the museum’s innovative arts education initiatives, community engagement programs, and dynamic partnerships both at 21st Street in NW and at Phillips@THEARC in SE. The pillars of our education and responsive learning programs are rooted in the words of our founder and mission.
Gala Honoree: Pat Steir
Pat Steir (1938-2026) is widely recognized for her paintings, drawings, prints, and installations which have been exhibited in museums and galleries internationally since the 1960s. In the late 1980s Steir developed her iconic Waterfall paintings by pouring paint and allowing gravity to shape the figure of the waterfall, a radical and singular approach to the medium defined by her relinquishing control to forces of nature outside of herself. Steir is a recipient of the International Medal of Arts from the United States Department of State and has been honored by numerous universities and colleges for her cultural advocacy and pioneering work in the arts. Steir is the subject of the acclaimed documentary Pat Steir: Artist, 2020.
Gala Honoree: Fundació Joan Miró
The Fundació Joan Miró is a museum and creative space as unique and inspiring as the artist who created it. Personally established by Joan Miró, the institution opened to the public on June 10, 1975, and has since become a reference point where Miró’s art coexists with the artistic creation of today. Beyond staging pioneering exhibitions of 20th and 21st century art, the Fundació organizes public and social programs in collaboration with institutions and organizations around the world, promoting creativity and critical thinking through innovative methodologies. Housed in a building designed by Josep Lluís Sert, it stands as a rare example of collaborative dialogue between artist and architect.
Gala Committee
Pam Kaplan, Co-Chair
Sarah Mills, Co-Chair
Beatriz Bolton
Connie Carter
Zoë Charlton
Tami F. Conetta
Anne Edwards
Dr. Harrine Freeman
Julie Garcia
Molly Adamson Gilbane
Barbara Hawthorn
Matthew Indre
Jennifer Lavinbuk
Gail Lione
Jane Lole
Brandi Saunders
Courtney Toomath-West
Serena Ziskroit
Artist Committee
peter campus
Carol Brown Goldberg
Dyani White Hawk
Sir Isaac Julien KBE RA
Pepón Osorio
James Phillips
Diplomatic Committee
H.E. Petra Schneebauer, Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the United States of America
H.E. Frédéric Bernard, Ambassador of Belgium to the United States
H.E. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti, Ambassador of Brazil to the United States
H.E. Jesper Møller Sørensen, Ambassador of Denmark to the United States
H.E. María Isabel Castillo Báez, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United States
H.E. Motaz Zahran, Ambassador of Egypt to the United States
H.E. Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States
H.E. Jens Hanefeld, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United States
H.E. Marco Peronaci, Ambassador of Italy to the United States
H.E. Shigeo Yamada, Ambassador of Japan to the United States
H.E. Sheikha Al-Zain Al-Sabah, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to the United States
H.E. Nicole Bintner-Bakshian, Ambassador of Luxembourg
H.E. Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, Ambassador of Mexico to the United States
H.E. Maguy Maccario Doyle, Ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to the United States and Canada
Mr. Bogdan Klich, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Republic of Poland to the United States of America
H.E. Ángeles Moreno Bau, Ambassador of Spain to the United States
H.E. Dr. Ralf Heckner, Ambassador of Switzerland to the United States
H.E. Sir Christian Turner KCMG, His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States
(as of April 1, 2026)
2026 Annual Gala Sponsors
Champion
Bloomberg Philanthropies
The Dosal Family Foundation & Beatriz and Graham Bolton
Partner
Akio Tagawa
The Garcia Family Spotlight Foundation
Total Wine & More
Benefactor
Anonymous
The Alper Family Foundation, Inc.
Terri, Paul, and Ben Balaran
Dr. Harrine Freeman
Stephanie and Greg Guyett
Daniel W. Hamilton
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Katten
Northern Trust
The Embassy of the State of Qatar in the United States
George Vradenburg
Reid Walker
Judy and Leo Zickler
Supporter
Anonymous
Barbara Brown and Robert Berish
The Burns Group Merrill Lynch
Connie Carter, CØMPASS Real Estate
Chevy Chase Trust
Anne and Anuj Dhanda
DLR Group & Zubatkin
Anne and Gus Edwards
Yasmine and Omar Ghorbal & Annie Simonian Totah
Robert and Molly Gilbane Jr.
Brian Glasser and Lena Thoren-Glasser
GRF CPAs & Advisors
Barbara Hawthorn & Sherrie Beckstead
Bonnie and Harold Himmelman
JM Zell Partners, LTD
Gail Lione and Barry Grossman
Locks Gallery
Robin K. Phillips & Lori and Paul Carbonneau
Mr. Roger Sant and Congresswoman Doris Matsui
Friend
Aon Huntington T. Block Insurance Agency, Inc.
Jamie Baldinger
Lisa Barry and James Gale
Sylvia Bergstrom, Marin Hagen, and Joe Rothstein
Boyarsky-Maisel Foundation
Arkadi Gerney and Nancy Meakem
Pamela Gwaltney
Barbara and Bob Hall
Richard and Pamela Hinds
Nancy Hirshbein and Robert Roche
Marcia Hayes and G Daniel Prigmore
Paul W. Killian and Carole Goodson
Kathleen Knepper
Daniel Korengold and Martha Dippell
The Lilley Line
Jane Lole and Steven Sumberg
Pathstone
Brandi Saunders
Stratus
Sharon and David Tompkins
Courtney Toomath-West and Kenneth West
Leslie A. Wheelock
Serena and Harris Ziskroit
with special support of
in partnership with
(as of April 24, 2026)
The Impact of the Annual Gala
Finding Respite
The Phillips, from its inception, has focused on the healing power of art. We create space for art to heal and bring joy, whether through our monthly online Art & Wellness Club, engaging adults living with memory loss in our Creative Aging program, or integrating wellness into programs like Phillips after 5.
Seeing Differently
Art has the power to communicate when words cannot: our exhibitions and related education and responsive learning programs offer a springboard for understanding our world. More than 34,000 participants engage in our work annually—whether through immersive in-school partnerships or in-museum programs.
A Welcoming Home for All
We believe in the “joy-giving, life-enhancing” power of art and strive to challenge perceptions of what a museum can be. The museum provides high-quality, engaging experiences that equitably serve the DC community and beyond—with visitors from all 50 states and more than 40 countries in 2024-25 alone.
An Experiment Station
Our interdisciplinary programs for audiences of all ages bring art to life, with myriad opportunities to view, discuss, make, and exhibit art. Programs are co-created with more than 50 public program partners and participants to encourage authentic community dialogue and action.
Support The Phillips Collection Annual Gala
If you have any questions, please contact The Phillips Collection’s Annual Gala team at AnnualGala@PhillipsCollection.org
2025 Annual Gala: Powered by Artists
The Phillips Collection’s 2025 Annual Gala raised over $870,000 to support the museum’s innovative education and community initiatives.