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At the Bronx Museum Gala, a Community-Built Institution Prepares for Its Next Chapter

As renovation advances, the Bronx Museum’s new director sharpens its mission while expanding its reach beyond the borough.

Among the several museum renovation and expansion projects to be completed in New York this year, the Bronx Museum is among the most highly anticipated. Announced in the summer of 2024 and set to be completed by the end of 2026, the renovation is overseen by the award-winning architecture and urban planning firm Marvel and has been supported by nearly $42.9 million in city funding, with additional support from the state. This investment confirms the role the museum has played in its community and the city’s broader cultural scene since its founding in 1971 by a group of local community members rather than a single patron or private collection, which immediately set the tone for its long-standing mission to represent diverse and underrepresented voices.

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On Wednesday, April 15, the museum hosted its annual 2026 Gala & Art Auction at Tribeca Rooftop, raising support to champion diverse contemporary artists and engage audiences in The Bronx and beyond.

The gala honored contemporary artist Awol Erizku—who will present a forthcoming solo exhibition at the Bronx Museum of the Arts—with the Artistic Visionary Award, presented by rapper FERG. Arts patron Lois Plehn received the Cultural Ambassador Award, presented by Michael Mcginnis, while KidSuper founder Colm Dillane—designer, artist and creative force behind KidSuper Studios—was honored with the Innovator Award, presented by recording artist, actor and advocate Joey Bada$$.

Other notable guests of the black-tie event spanned the entertainment industry and the art world, including Ella Emhoff, Lois Plehn, Antwaun Sargent, Derrick Adams, Mickalene Thomas, Jon Gray, Hannah Traore, Larry Ossei-Mensah, Tyrell Hampton, Valeri Larko, Zoe Lukov, Michael McGinnis, Gamaliel Rodriguez, Ann Craven, Julien Granel, and gallerists Sara Arno and Tara Downs. Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson was also in attendance. The gala was hosted by co-chairs Danielle Falls and Annie B. Taylor, alongside........

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