TORONTO — On September 28, 2023, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) played it up at its annual fundraiser Art Bash! The sold-out event, presented by Tricon Residential, brought 900 AGO supporters together raising a record $1.1 million to support the museum’s collections, exhibitions and access programs. This fundraising achievement is the largest for the event to date. Inspired by the artistry of KAWS and Keith Haring, and welcoming artist Brian Donnelly (aka KAWS), the theme of the gala was Press Play – a bold and energetic art-filled celebration of art, fashion, food, décor, drinks and music. The 2023 edition of Art Bash! was co-chaired by Daniel Abichandani, Sonja Berman and Mazyar Mortazavi.
“The energy at this year’s Art Bash! was incredible,” said Abichandani, Berman and Mortazavi. “This is Canada’s art party. We were so pleased to see so many people come out in support of the AGO and its commitment to art, learning and access.”
“Art Bash! is totally AGO: art-filled, people-filled and full of fun. And drawing inspiration from the AGO’s fall exhibition lineup, this year’s Press Play was as big, bold and playful as the art of KAWS and Keith Haring,” says Stephan Jost, the AGO’s Michael and Sonja Koerner Director and CEO. “The success and growth of Art Bash! is testament to our communities’ belief in the AGO and it’s mission. Thank you Daniel Abichandani, Sonja Berman, Mazyar Mortazavi and the entire Art Bash! Committee for bringing your passion for art to this event.”
The AGO thanks VIP Event Sponsor RBC Capital Markets and VIP Reception Sponsor Max Mara and our 2023 Art Bash! Committee members: George Antonopoulos, Emily Ben-Haim, Sarah Bhalla, Ryan Emberley, Francesca Feldman, Janice Fricker, Alan Ganev, Georgina Goldring, Emma Guizzetti, Lauren Guizzetti, Mona Halem, Beth Horowitz, Brianne Leeder, Alistair Leyland, Claire MacNamara, Ben Mandell, Vicky Milner, Kim Mimran, Darcy Morris, Ralph Roach, Madeline Sarracini, Divya Shahani, Jaime Shulman, Candice Sinclair, Tristan Sones, Sheryl Song, Robin Turack, Susan Wortzman and Meghan Yuri-Young.
Contributing artists for this year’s Art Bash! included musical performers Keys N Krates, DJ Karim Olen Ash and DJ Kiinjo. The museum welcomed one-night-only art installations by contemporary artists Aaron Jones, GUNNAR Floral, Caroline Monnet, Dainesha Nugent-Palache, Eli Schwanz and Jordan Sook. Décor for the event was provided by Candice & Alison. Fashion Magazine and the Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards (CAFA) presented a selection of cutting edge designs by Canadian fashion designers, Atelier Guarin, Fugnitto, Rock N’Karma and Suburban Deviant. The VIP dinner was designed by the AGO Culinary team.
Purchase an AGO membership or Annual Pass and experience KAWS: FAMILY on view now and Keith Haring: Art Is for Everybody (opening November 11, 2023) as many times as you’d like.
@AGOToronto | #SeeAGO
Presenting Sponsor
Tricon Residential
VIP Event Sponsor
RBC Capital Markets
VIP Reception Sponsor
Max Mara
Contributing Sponsors
Altas Partners
Camrost Felcorp
Empire Communities
Ewing Morris Investment Partners Ltd.
Goodmans LLP
Intact Insurance
Kilmer Group
Madison Group
Mirabella Development Corporation
Northwest Lexus
Scotiabank
Summer Fresh
Stifel
Taglialatella Galleries
TASDesign
Contributing Patrons
Daniel Abichandani
The Shelly Avital Foundation
Belinda & Blake Goldring
Maxwell & Heather Gotlieb
Ira Gluskin & Maxine Granovsky Gluskin
The Robert Harding Foundation
The MacNamara Family
Dani Reiss
Vanessa and Daniel Schlaepfer
The Schulich Foundation
Jay Smith
Susan Wortzman & David Lever
Event Experience Sponsors
Barbet
Carlsberg
Contemporary Furniture Rentals Inc.
Heffel
Northern Valet by Indigo
Ontarieau
Paragon DPI
Partake Brewing
Spirit of York
Tequila Tromba
Fashion Presentation Sponsor
Mantella Corporation
Creative Partner
Certo
ABOUT THE AGO
Located in Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is one of the largest art museums in North America, attracting approximately one million visitors annually. The AGO Collection of more than 120,000 works of art ranges from cutting-edge contemporary art to significant works by Indigenous and Canadian artists to European masterpieces. The AGO presents wide-ranging exhibitions and programs, including solo exhibitions and acquisitions by diverse and underrepresented artists from around the world. The AGO is committed to being welcoming and accessible: admission is free for anyone under 25 years, and anyone can purchase an annual pass for $35. In 2022, the AGO began the design phase of an expansion project intended to increase exhibition space for the museum’s growing modern and contemporary collection. When construction begins in 2024, it will be the seventh expansion that the AGO has undertaken since it was founded in 1900. Visit AGO.ca to learn more.
The AGO is funded in part by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Additional operating support is received from the City of Toronto, the Canada Council for the Arts and generous contributions from AGO Members, donors and private-sector partners.
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For images and more information, please contact:
Wendy So | Communications Officer
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