PHOTOS: Inside the 2026 Gordon Parks Foundation Gala

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PHOTOS: Inside the 2026 Gordon Parks Foundation Gala

Mickalene Thomas and John Legend. Getty Images of Gordon Park

The Gordon Parks Foundation has spent two decades making the case that art is among the most powerful tools in the fight for social justice, and the organization’s 20-year gallery on Cipriani 42nd Street was proof of that. The electric night raised a record $3 million—including $1.2 million from an exciting auction of Parks photos led by the star auctioneer. Kimberly Pirtle-supporting fellowships, awards and scholarships that will carry the goals of the Parks into the next generation.

Walking at night, Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr.his grandfather Philip Kunhardt, who founded the Foundation and Parks, said the photographer “left clear instructions: ‘Take what I started and put it into the future’… Gordon knew that art is more powerful than violence because it can open our eyes.” He then introduced the chairs Alicia Keys again Swizz Beatz by Parks photo of artist and 2018 Foundation Fellow Derrick Adams before announcing the foundation’s 2026 Fellows: jazz pianist and composer Jason Moransingers Sanford Biggers again Amanda Williamsand the professor Leigh Raiford.

Since then, Pharrell Williams and a Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times bestseller Salamishah Tillet presented the first award of the evening to the EGOT winner, multiplatinum singer and producer John Legendwho closed his words by raising his voice in song. Darren Walkerpresident and CEO of Anonymous Content, named after the poet, scholar and president of the Mellon Foundation Elizabeth Alexanderwho asserted that “art is a necessary and courageous act. The artist of the mind Hank Willis Thomas presented the award to Chance the Rapperwhile a musician, teacher and photographer Deana Lawson a respected artist Henry Taylor. Finally, an athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick presented the final award of the evening to Lonnie Aliwho accepted on behalf of Muhammad Ali’s family.

The program of this gala is supported by music. The night opened with Chance The Rapper joining the Anthony Morgan Inspirational Choir of Harlem for “I Was A Rock”—a gospel ballad laced with soundbites from a 1977 interview in which Ali discussed dedicating his post-retirement life to helping others. Dinner is accompanied by live music Dave Guytrumpet player for The Roots. Daughter of Gordon Parks Leslie Parks Bailey and singer, producer and composer Mario Sprouse—music director for three Parks films—then introduced Moran, who gave a moving piano tribute to Muhammad Ali.

All in all, the gathering paid, as usual, a fitting tribute to the man who used his camera “as a weapon to fight poverty, racism, all kinds of social evils.” Chance The Rapper may have said it best when he leaned on stage and said, “The world is on fire, and the greatest defense we have in the art world is documentaries. Are we going to be bystanders, or are we going to create the future we want? Let’s keep on whoring.”