The Contemporary Austin’s Art Dinner Draws Notable Guests for a Disco-Themed Night at Laguna Gloria

Austin’s contemporary art museum The Contemporary Austin hosted its annual Art Dinner and Afterparty on Nov. 8, drawing more than 400 guests to the museum’s lakeside home at Laguna Gloria. The event unfolded across the 14-acre grounds of the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park, where a disco-inspired gala brought together artists, patrons and community leaders in support of contemporary art in Austin.

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Adrienne Bosh, sharon maidenberg, Chris Bosh (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Victor Arriola/BFA.com)

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Celeste Quesada, Adrian Quesada (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Victor Arriola/BFA.com)

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Rachel Tieleman, Heidi Okla, JK Baxter, Blair Baxter (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Matthew Reeves/BFA.com)

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Nick Campbell, Kelly Frye, Matt Kleberg, David R Carballido (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Victor Arriola/BFA.com)

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Cutter Dykstra, Jamie-Lynn Sigler (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Matthew Reeves/BFA.com)

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Kelly Frye, Lydia Fenet (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Matthew Reeves/BFA.com)

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Chris Bosh, Adrienne Bosh (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Matthew Reeves/BFA.com)

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Brooke Mozersky, Laura Lit (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Matthew Reeves/BFA.com)

Glittering celebration

The evening opened inside the Driscoll Villa, the 1916 Italianate landmark that sits at the center of Laguna Gloria. There, guests viewed the Benefit Art Auction, which featured works by regional and international artists. TheBROSFRESH, a rising Austin-based duo of Louisiana-born twin brothers blending country and R&B, delivered a lively performance that set the tone for the night.

The gala’s Studio 54 theme shaped much of the atmosphere: mirrored disco balls hovered over tables, red carpets ran beneath guests’ feet and chandeliers cast a glittering haze across the sculpture park. Attendees embraced the prompt, arriving in sequined gowns, metallic suits and other interpretations of the era’s glamour.

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The Contemporary Austin’s 12th Annual Art Dinner and Afterparty (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Matthew Reeves/BFA.com)

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The Contemporary Austin’s 12th Annual Art Dinner and Afterparty (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Matthew Reeves/BFA.com)

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The Contemporary Austin’s 12th Annual Art Dinner and Afterparty (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Victor Arriola/BFA.com)

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The Contemporary Austin’s 12th Annual Art Dinner and Afterparty (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Victor Arriola/BFA.com)

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The Contemporary Austin’s 12th Annual Art Dinner and Afterparty (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Victor Arriola/BFA.com)

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Greg Valentine, Lydia Fenet (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Matthew Reeves/BFA.com)

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THEBROSFRESH (Image courtesy of The Contemporary Austin Photography by Matthew Reeves/BFA.com)

Supporting local arts education and community programs

Proceeds from the event support The Contemporary Austin’s exhibitions, arts education programs and community initiatives. This year marked the fifth Art Dinner under sharon maidenberg, the museum’s Ernest and Sarah Butler Executive Director and CEO. The Contemporary Austin remains the city’s only museum devoted exclusively to contemporary art — a distinction that gives the annual gala outsized significance as a fundraiser for artists working today. Artists participating in the auction are also given the option to receive up to 50% of the proceeds from the sale of their work.

Hot off the heels of Art Dinner, the Afterparty extended the celebrations late into the evening, welcoming the public to join the festivities with Afterparty host Mama Duke and an electric lineup of Austin’s hottest DJs.

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