Water Mill’s Golden Hour: Inside the Parrish Art Museum Midsummer Gala

July 23, 2025 / Sophie Clearwater /

Stephanie Horton, Monica Ramirez-Montagut, Mickalene Thomas and Latham Thomas. Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

The shining stars of art and culture decamped to Long Island’s East End dressed to impress for Parrish Art Museum’s Midsummer Gala. Titled Echoes of the Cosmos, this year’s edition drew more than 700 movers, shakers and boundary pushers to Water Mill, where assembled guests honored artists Rafael Lozano-Hemmer, Sanford Biggers and Nina Yankowitz and philanthropic power couple Sandy and Stephen Perlbinder. All told, the always anticipated sunset gala dinner and DJ-fueled afterparty raised almost $1.4 million to sustain the museum’s mission of fostering creativity through accessibility—a very fitting tribute to the Perlbinders.

Early in the evening, guests ambled through the terraces, iconic meadows and galleries. “Sean Scully: The Albee Barn, Montauk,” “Shirin Neshat: Born of Fire” and “Fresh Paint: Raven Halfmoon” added a touch of gravitas to the otherwise boisterous affair. At dinner, Parrish Museum’s executive director Mónica Ramirez-Montagut took the microphone to praise the night’s “deeply engaged” and “endlessly curious” honorees. Between the cocktail hour—which featured special appearances by extravagant automobiles from the Hedley Studios—and performances by contemporary company Parsons Dance, there was a lively paddle raise led by Kimberly Pirtle Gabriel of Sotheby’s in support of the museum’s Access Parrish and Artscope: Teen Council initiatives.

Kimberly Pirtle Gabriel. Matt Borkowski/BFA.com

This evening was defined by the abundance of artists. In the crowd, Mickalene Thomas, Rashid Johnson and Shantell Martin brushed shoulders with April Gornik, Eric Fischl, Joan Semmel and Arcmanoro Niles. Also spotted were Sheree Hovsepian, Mel Kendrick, Sean Scully, Pat Steir and Michelle Stuart. Meanwhile, CNN anchor Erin Burnett and commentator and former representative Steve Israel mingled with Southampton mayor William Manger Jr. and business leaders John Paulson, Bertha González Nieves and Dennis and Karen Mehiel. Also on the terrace were director of Art Production Fund Casey Fremont, celebrity chef Sandra Lee and Real Housewives star Ramona Singer.

But the highlight of Parrish Art Museum’s Midsummer Gala was, as always, the afterparty, the Afterglow Dance Party. Long after the tableware was cleared, revelers tore it up on the dance floor to sets artfully spun by DJ Inflyt.