On Tuesday, April 9, the Brooklyn Museum hosted the 13th Annual Brooklyn Artists Ball, honoring museum trustee Titus Kaphar.

“We are thrilled to be honoring Titus Kaphar, an artist of great humanity, community builder, and trustee who has made a profound impact on both our museum and contemporary culture as a whole,” said Brooklyn Museum director Anne Pasternak.

The evening included a private viewing of Kaphar’s work, showcased at the museum’s “Giants: Art From the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys” exhibition.

Kaphar’s work has been included in numerous exhibitions at the museum, including “The Legacy of Lynching: Confronting Racial Terror in America” in 2017. His seminal work, “Shifting the Gaze” (2017), is housed in the museum’s permanent collection.

Kaphar’s work—paintings, sculptures, drawings, installations—engages and reconsiders the historical record, from slavery and Jim Crow to the Black Power Movement and contemporary racial justice protests.

In addition, Kahar established his film production company, Revolution Ready, in 2021. He did so with the vision of extending his studio practice and adapting existing bodies of painting and sculpture into film.

Kaphar is also a cofounder of NXTHVN, along with Jason Price and Jonathan Brand. Its core aim is to build an alternative model of art mentorship through a specially designed curriculum and to develop opportunities for emerging local entrepreneurs.

Of the evening’s honor, Kaphar said, “This is an extraordinary moment. To be here right now and be the center of this feels a little weird, honestly, but it also feels like a culminating moment in my career.”

“To say I am honored by this recognition is an understatement. The Brooklyn Museum is an extraordinary champion to my most beloved artists and influences. I am grateful to be on the board of this powerful institution that so fearlessly advocates for creativity when it is so very much needed in the world.”

Party-goers also enjoyed a surprise performance by British rapper Little Simz and later a DJ set by Swizz Beatz at the after-party. Notable attendees included Rosamund Pike, Naomi Watts, Thomas Doherty, Antonia Gentry, Kristine Froseth, Rebecca Hall, Morgan Spector, Aria Mia Loberti, Isabelle Fuhrman, Mickalene Thomas, and more.

The annual occasion also highlights the Brooklyn Museum’s ongoing commitment to champion visionary artists and unite diverse communities to celebrate creativity and philanthropy. Moreover, the Artists Ball is the museum’s largest fundraising event of the year, raising $2.8 million this year.

Brazilian Artist Romero Britto said, “Art is too important not to share.” Broadway Stages agrees completely and values the Brooklyn Museum’s sharing and raising the place of art in our city. The Brooklyn Museum is a valued resource for Brooklyn and the whole City.

One of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States, the Brooklyn Museum’s  roots extend back to 1823 and the founding of the Brooklyn Apprentices’ Library to educate young tradesmen (Walt Whitman would later become one of its librarians). To learn more about the rich history and mission of the Brooklyn Museum click here.