Why have one party when you can have two? That was the spirit when New Orleans Museum of Art hosted the Visionaries Gala and Garden Party presented by First Horizon on Nov. 7 and 8.
The museum had much to celebrate: it was the 20th anniversary of the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Since it opened in 2003 with 20 works across five acres, it has grown to 100 works of art from the 19th century to today, spanning nearly 12 acres. In 2024, three new additions by Elmgreen & Dragset, Sarah Sze and Thomas J. Price joined the collection.
For the first night, more than 300 guests from New Orleans and across the globe gathered under stars in the beautifully lit garden, where an elegant seated dinner took place and the Dee Dee Bridgewater Quartet performed.
The next night at the Garden Party, featured entertainment included Jaleo Flamenco, The Rumble featuring Chief Joseph Boudreaux Jr. and DJ C’est Funk.
The event committee included Walda Besthoff, Valerie Besthoff and Jane Steiner as honorary chairs. Liza and Filippo Feoli, Robyn and Andrew Schwarz, Tod and Kenya Smith, Jenny and Robb Vorhoff and NOMA Volunteer Committee Chair Tully Forrester Jordan spearheaded efforts locally alongside national chairs Keith Fox and Tom Keyes, and Donna Rosen.
The Visionaries Gala replaced NOMA’s usual fall events, LOVE in the Garden and Odyssey Ball.
Fun Fact: As part of the celebration, NOMA unveiled a new catalogue, “Where Art Meets Nature: The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden,” published by Monacelli. The publication documents the garden’s history, artworks and vision.
