The Norton Museum of Art’s Gilded Age Gala, By Candlelight

• The Norton Museum of Art leaned fully into the Gilded Age for its 2026 Gala, transforming the West Palm Beach grounds into a candlelit tableau of grandeur. On February 7, nearly 700 guests gathered at the Museum, raising close to $5 million in support of the Norton’s curatorial, learning, and community engagement programs.

The evening was led by Kenneth C. Griffin Director and CEO Ghislain d’Humières and Board Chair Kelly Williams, alongside Gala Co-Chairs Audrey Gruss, Sue Hostetler, and Josephine Kalisman, with Vice Chairs Candace Barasch, Lorna James, Beth Rudin DeWoody, Lisa Tananbaum, and Silvia Zoullas.

Working with designer Chris Hessney of Hessney & Co., the Co-Chairs drew inspiration from a 17th-century Dutch still life. Tables were layered in velvet and abundant florals, lit entirely by real candles, a bold choice for a crowd of this size and one that gave the evening a warm, flickering intimacy. The room committed fully to the theme, yet remained firmly in good taste.

Trustee Ronnie Heyman was honored as Patron Honoree. Artist Loie Hollowell was recognized during the dinner and spoke about her deeply personal Brain paintings, inspired by her father, artist David Hollowell, who suffered a brain injury. The seventh annual Gala Auction was hosted by Oliver Barker, Chairman of Sotheby’s Europe, and featured works by Loie Hollowell alongside pieces by Julie Curtiss, Jeffrey Gibson, Jessie Henson, and Marilyn Minter.

For all its velvet and candlelight, the evening ultimately centered on purpose: sustaining one of Palm Beach’s most important cultural institutions and ensuring its programs continue to serve the community.