Inside Art Production Fund’s 2026 Apres Gala

At this year’s Art Production Fund gala, the “après” party started early.

The arts organization is known for its immersive themed fundraisers — summer camp, slumber party, nautical — and on Wednesday night, The Grill and The Pool were transformed into a cozy chalet for après ski.

An ice bar sculpture, engraved with Art Production Fund’s event logo, welcomed guests into the space with a quick warm-up in the form of Absolut Tabasco shots. At the bottom of the staircase leading up to cocktail hour, an attendant was stationed next to Kelly Wall’s “Wistful Well” sculpture, helping press pennies into souvenir coins.

Wall created the installation for the recent Made in L.A. biennial at the Hammer Museum, tapping into a sense of nostalgia, and APF executive director Casey Fremont suggested bringing it along to the gala. “It’s actually kind of perfect for the theme, because it’s mountainesque,” said Wall, who recently collaborated with APF on a piece for Frieze in L.A., and will participate in APF’s upcoming Art Sundae event for kids, a recurring series. “Working with Art Production Fund’s been amazing — honestly, I’ve never felt so supported by anybody in the art world,” she added.

The artist was standing next to a makeshift ice rink in the center of the room, where Amanda Ross-Ho — another Art Production Fund collaborator — was gliding across in a skeleton onesie, part of her performance piece “Untitled Figure (Reprise).”

In the downstairs powder room, event sponsor Amazon Beauty had glam stations with Clé de Peau Beauté products; other fashion supporters this year included Gucci and Moncler, who provided on-theme beanies for the waitstaff. Other guests interpreted the “après” dress code in myriad ways: there were puffer coat dresses, furry shawls and coats, an “Aspen” hoodie and many renditions of ski sweaters, goggles worn as headpieces and more. APF cofounder Yvonne Force Villareal and Cynthia Rowley both donned white furry trapper hats, while artists Will Cotton and Sanford Biggers opted for bright orange sweaters. Other guests included Mickalene Thomas, Derrick Adams, Marilyn Minter, Sergio Hudson, Raul Lopez, Anna Sui, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Stacey Bendet, Athena Calderone and Huma Abedin.

Inside The Pool, guests found their place cards — designed as season ski passes, accompanied by a foldout ski map serving as the event program — as Euro-inspired DJ duo the Polar Bears set the mood for the fondue appetizer course. “Shot skis” made the rounds later in the evening.

“ Artist voices are more important than ever, and public art holds a unique power,” Fremont, alongside director of operations Kathleen Lynch, told the room as diners skewered cubes of bread to twirl into the melted pots of cheese in the center of each table. “It meets people where they are, woven into the rhythm of everyday life. Free from entry barriers, often reaching those who may not seek it out, but are moved by its presence,” she added. “ Because of you, art becomes more accessible, more inclusive, and more impactful.”

And while the pair encouraged the room to give generously during the paddle raise — the event ended up raising over $1 million — they also reminded the crowd to take home a tangible memory of the evening.

“ Don’t forget to press a penny,” added Fremont. “You know, they’re out of circulation now.”