The Phillips Collection to Celebrate Creativity at 2026 Annual Gala: The Creative Spark
Fundació Joan Miró and Acclaimed Artist Pat Steir to be Honored on May 8
WASHINGTON, DC— The Phillips Collection will host its 2026 Annual Gala: The Creative Spark, on May 8 in its historic galleries. As the museum’s premier fundraising event, the Gala will honor the Fundació Joan Miró and trailblazing artist Pat Steir for their significant contributions to the arts. Proceeds support the museum’s education initiatives, community engagement programs, and partnerships across Washington, DC.
Inspired by Miró and the United States, the museum’s spring exhibition, this year’s theme reflects Joan Miró’s profound connection to American artists and culture. It celebrates the imaginative force that animates the Phillips, from the galleries to classrooms, workshops, and the broader community. The evening also honors the founding vision of Duncan Phillips, who opened his home in 1921 to create a museum centered on artists, dialogue, and the transformative power of art.
“When Duncan Phillips opened his family home to the public, he envisioned a meeting place for many minds, united by a genuine respect for the spirit of art,” says Vradenburg Director & CEO Jonathan P. Binstock. “The Creative Spark reflects that enduring commitment. It is the force that inspires every artist and every guest who visits our galleries. Art has the power to communicate what words cannot, creating moments of reflection and connection. The Gala helps ensure that spark continues to illuminate our galleries, classrooms, and community.”
Bringing together government and diplomatic figures, business leaders, philanthropists, artists, and leaders of the Washington, DC community, the Annual Gala honors individuals and institutions whose contributions to the arts embody creativity and civic engagement. This year, the museum will recognize the Fundació Joan Miró, co-organizer of Miró and the United States and steward of Miró’s artistic legacy, celebrated on the occasion of its 50th anniversary; and visionary painter Pat Steir, whose groundbreaking, process-driven abstractions have shaped contemporary painting and whose work is represented in the Phillips’s permanent collection.
Guests will dine among works from the collection, experiencing firsthand the intimate galleries that distinguish the Phillips. Throughout the evening, attendees can enjoy immersive experiences, including a JS Audio Listening Lounge and a special collaboration with Lucy Mercer Bar, culminating in an After Party with live music, dancing, and opportunities to spark conversation and connection.
The Annual Gala is the Phillips’s most important fundraising event, with proceeds of nearly $700,000 to date. Funds raised directly support the museum’s innovative education initiatives, community engagement programs, and dynamic partnerships, both at its historic 21st Street home in Northwest Washington and at Phillips@THEARC in Southeast DC. From Creative Aging programs for adults living with memory loss to immersive K–12 partnerships and wellness-centered public programs, the Phillips serves more than 34,000 participants annually. Working with over 50 community partners, the museum continues to evolve as a welcoming home for all, an “experiment station,” in Duncan Phillips’s words, where art fosters dialogue, discovery, and joy.
LOCATION
The Phillips Collection
1600 21st St, NW, Washington, DC 20009
6:30–9 pm | Reception, dinner, and program
More Information
9 pm–Midnight | After Party
2025 GALA HONOREES
Fundació Joan Miró
Pat Steir
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
ARTIST COMMITTEE
peter campus
Carol Brown Goldberg
Dyani White Hawk
Sir Isaac Julien KBE RA
Pepón Osorio
James Phillips
GALA COMMITTEE
Pamela 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.
2026 GALA SPONSORS
As of March 10, 2026
Champion
Bloomberg Philanthropies
The Dosal Family Foundation & Beatriz and Graham Bolton
Partner
Akio Tagawa
Ednah Root Foundation
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
The Embassy of the State of Qatar in the United States
Reid Walker
Supporter
Barbara Brown and Robert Barish
The Burns Group Merill 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 and 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
ABOUT THE PHILLIPS COLLECTION
Founded in 1921, The Phillips Collection is a welcoming home for all where the vision and spirit of artists thrive in intimate settings. As the first museum of modern art in the United States, the Phillips houses one of the world’s most celebrated Impressionist, Post-Impressionist, and modern art collections, and continues to grow its permanent collection with the work of important living artists. Its distinctive domestically scaled architecture combines three structures built over more than 125 years, among them the former home of the founders, Duncan and Marjorie Phillips. The Phillips’s impact extends nationally and internationally through its diverse, scholarly exhibitions; award-winning education programs for educators, students, and adults; and renowned Phillips Music series. Popular and impactful programs include those focused on art and wellness, its festive monthly Phillips after 5 events, and intimate Living Room talks. Through authentic programs and partnerships at Phillips@THEARC, the museum’s satellite location in Southeast DC, the Phillips extends its reach into Wards 7 and 8 and Prince George’s County, Maryland. The Phillips Collection is a private, non-government museum, supported primarily by donations.