On Wednesday, May 21, MASS MoCA was honored to gather with our community to celebrate the artists, dreamers, and supporters shaping our shared art futures. Our guests experienced Spatial Poems featuring work by Cecilia Vicuña, Sam Frésquez, and Lola Ayisha Ogbara, curated by Curatorial Exchange Fellow Marissa Del Toro and guest curators Ninabah Winton and Jamillah Hinson, enjoyed a special performance by rising-generation artists Sören Smedvig and Richard Stanmeyer, and shared an unforgettable evening filled with generosity, inspiration, and joy alongside delicious fare from Mezze Catering.

Our 2026 Art Futures Awardees, Laurie Anderson and Charlotte Cramer Wagner, reminded all in attendance how essential it is to invest in artists’ ability to dream, experiment, and create freely. Their words and vision underscored the vital role the arts play in our everyday lives and in shaping a more imaginative future.

Together, gifts in the room surpassed $130,000 in honor of the awardees and in support of the Art Futures Fund, bringing the total raised to more than $670,000. This extraordinary support ensures MASS MoCA can continue its unique practice of investing directly in artists through new commissions, exhibitions, performances, and programming that champion creative freedom and artistic innovation.

MASS MoCA extends deep gratitude to everyone who made this possible—with special thanks to the Board of Trustees, the 2026 Host Committee, our extraordinary staff, and dedicated event partners who brought the evening to life.

Here’s to our shared art futures.

SUPPORT THE ART FUTURES FUND

Art Futures Awards

MASS MoCA is dedicated to supporting artistic freedom and creating inspiring conditions for artists to dream new worlds into being through their art. The dynamics of our shared world ask us all to change and adapt, not only now but also for a more sustainable future. We must anticipate and plan for the unexpected. We must remain nimble to be able to take creative chances. And we need to stay connected with each other — and to the wider culture — to enable the dreams of artists to take hold.

All proceeds of this event benefit the Art Futures Fund, which ensures MASS MoCA’s ability to continue its unique practice of investing directly in art and artists through the funding of new commissions, exhibitions, and programming.

We are pleased to launch MASS MoCA’s Art Futures Award by honoring an artist and a champion of artists who embody these values, and inspire and shape expanded futures for MASS MoCA, the field of contemporary art, and the world at large.

2026 Honorees

About the MASS MoCA Art Futures Award
The MASS MoCA Art Futures Award was established in 2025 to acknowledge bold individuals who persist in creating the art we need, before we are even aware we need it. They forge new ways ahead with courage. They carve future paths with singular fortitude. And they dare to dream our future forward through art. Each year, two Art Futures Awards honor an artist and a champion of artists who embody these values, and who inspire and shape the interconnected futures of MASS MoCA, the field of contemporary art, and the world at large. The inaugural 2025 Awardees were artist Vincent Valdez and Ruby Lerner, Founding Executive Director of Creative Capital.

Host Committee
As of April 1, 2026

Kelly and Bill Kaiser, Co-Chairs
Greg and Anne Avis
Alan Beller and Stephanie Neville
Julia Bowen and Brad Svrluga
Duncan and Susan Brown
Timur Galen and Linda Genereux
Steve and Lisa Jenks
‭Harold Koda and Alan Kornberg
Ruby Lerner
Pamela Lloyd and Renny Gleeson
Hans and Kate Morris
Jeryl and Steve Oristaglio
Patrick Planeta and Santiago Varela
Katie and Will Schmidt
Emily and Simon Shaw
Gerry and Kelly Pasciucco
Elizabeth and Haitham Wahab
Libby Wadsworth and Paul Peppis
‭Susy and Jack Wadsworth‬

THANK YOU
Our Sponsors make this event possible. We are thankful for each of your generosity and support of MASS MoCA’s Art Futures Benefit 2026.

VANGUARD SPONSORS
Greg and Anne Avis
The Wadsworth‬ Family
Kelly and Bill Kaiser
Anonymous

INTERLOCUTOR SPONSORS
Alan Beller and Stephanie Neville
Linda and Roger Mason
Jeryl and Steve Oristaglio
Gerry and Kelly Pasciucco
Charlotte Cramer Wagner and Herbert Wagner

STEWARD SPONSORS
Julia Bowen and Brad Svrluga
Duncan and Susan Brown
Timur Galen and Linda Genereux
Susan Gold
Goldman Sachs
Scott and Ellen Hand
Jim and Joan Hunter‬
Steve and Lisa Jenks
Hans and Kate Morris
Patrick Planeta and Santiago Varela
TOURISTS

STEWARD TICKET SPONSORS
George Ahl
Arthur Carpenter and Alexandra Wettlaufer
Brad Cloepfil
William Cohan
Doug Cole and Nancy Simonian
Marc Gotlieb
Olivia Howard and Greg Griffith
Pamela Lloyd and Renny Gleeson
Jana Reed
Mark Simonian and Sheila Harley
Sheree Stomberg and Peter Firestein
Elizabeth Wahab and Haitham Wahab
Adam Weinberg

INDIVIDUAL TICKETS
Access Plus
John Ackerly
Kathryn Carlson and Tito Bottitta
Steven Corkin
Sarah Eustis
Anna Farrington
Jason Forney
Hauser & Wirth
Monty Hermann and Sasithon Pooviriyakul
Natalie Johnsonius and David Neubert
Crystalle LaCouture
Ruby Lerner
Lesley O’Neill
Perri Petricca and Michelle Thorpe
Leo Quigley
Judilee Reed
Emily and Simon Shaw
Jonathan Swartz
John Thoman Jr and Lee Venolia
Liz Wol and David Zylberberg

ART FUTURES FUND DONORS
Bonnie and Terry Burman
Michael Hecht
Sue Killam & Kevin Kennefick
Robert and Trina McKeever
Robert and Trina McKeever
Clifford Ross
Jay and Rachel Tarses
Randi and Harlan Steinberger
 

Sponsors and supporters as of May 19, 2026.