The Barnes Foundation Announces the 2025 Barnes Art Ball

Benefit event celebrating Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets exhibition, featuring live music and DJs, pop-up performances, and access to the exhibition and collection

Friday, October 17, 7 pm

Philadelphia, PA, October 14, 2025—The Barnes Foundation has announced its annual benefit, the Barnes Art Ball, taking place on Friday, October 17. This year’s Art Ball brings together artists, philanthropists, collectors, connectors, and community partners for an art-filled celebration of the Barnes. Funds raised directly support the Barnes’s educational mission, exhibition program, and care of the collection, and an array of artistic, community, and scholarly initiatives.

This year’s Art Ball celebrates the opening of Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets, a world-premiere exhibition of paintings by the self-taught artist Henri Rousseau (1844–1910), featuring works from the Barnes collection and museums around the world. On view in the Roberts Gallery and co-curated by Christopher Green, consulting curator, Professor Emeritus at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London, and Nancy Ireson, Deputy Director for Collections and Exhibitions & Gund Family Chief Curator at the Barnes, the exhibition is the most significant presentation of Rousseau’s work in decades. With nearly 60 works on view, it is also the largest US presentation of his art since 2006.

“This year’s Art Ball is inspired by the remarkable Henri Rousseau exhibition, which brings works from the two preeminent Rousseau collections—the Barnes and the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris—together for the first time, alongside important paintings from around the world,” says Nina Diefenbach, senior vice president and deputy director for advancement. “Our annual Art Ball, an event that grows in popularity and buzz each year, is an incredible opportunity to celebrate with our dedicated community of supporters, whose commitment and generosity ensure the success of the Barnes and our educational mission now and for generations to come.”

In addition to an exclusive after-hours preview of Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets and access to the Barnes collection, this year’s Art Ball will be a free-flowing campus-wide event, featuring multiple bars, deluxe food stations, live music, DJs, and pop-up performances. The evening’s entertainment will spotlight Philadelphia-based and regional talent, including DJ Val Fleury, a Liberian-born DJ and creative connoisseur who will provide music throughout the evening in the Annenberg Court; DJ Bobby Flowers, a diverse artist with a portfolio that includes music, theater, and visual arts; and Yasser Tejeda Trio, led by an award-winning Dominican composer, guitarist, vocalist, and producer, will perform on the West Terrace. The evening will also feature a special outdoor stilt-walking performance by Madeleine Belle. The collage artworks of interdisciplinary artist Yannick Lowery will be projected onto the walls of the Annenberg Court, and a vinyl lounge and bar with DJs and signature cocktails from 48 Record Bar will be presented on the lower level.

The theme for this year’s Art Ball is “Let Your Imagination Run Wild!” The Barnes will be transformed into a lush oasis by event producer Susan Norcross with Jessica Mader, drawing inspiration from the imaginative world of Henri Rousseau’s jungle paintings. Also featured will be elegant food stations by Constellation Culinary Group with wine donated from DAOU Vineyards.

For more information about the 2025 Barnes Art Ball, please visit the website.

BARNES ART BALL LEADERSHIP & COMMITTEE

Trustee Chairs
John R. Alchin and Hal Marryatt
Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz
Pamela D. Bundy
Joan Carter and John Aglialoro
Emily and Michael Cavanagh
Beverly and Gregory E. Deavens
Julia and David Fleischner
Margie and Jeffrey Honickman
Cathy Hughes
Lisa Kabnick and John McFadden
Leslie Miller and Richard Worley
Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer and Joseph Neubauer
Aileen and Brian Roberts

Honorary Co-Chairs
The Hon. Jacqueline F. Allen
Judith Broudy
Betsy Z. and Edward D. Cohen
Katy Donoghue
Tamala M. Edwards
Johanna Fateman
Val (Valerie V.) Gay
Cherri Gregg
Agnes Gund*
Anne and Matt Hamilton
Christine and George Henisee
Aunyea Lachelle
Jacqueline London
Marni Manko
Leigh P. Middleton
Breland Moore
Hilarie L. Morgan
Megan Maguire O’Hara
Marsha and Jeffrey Perelman
Lyn M. Ross
Adele K. Schaeffer
Brenda and Larry Thompson
Robbi and Bruce Toll
Helene and Archbold van Beuren
Regina and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten
Dalila Wilson-Scott

Co-Chairs
ruby onyinyechi amanze
Christine and Michael Angelakis
Demi Angelakis
Karen Dougherty Buchholz
Marianne N. Dean
Rebecca Diefenbach
Michelle and Eugene Dubay
Nina and Louis Eni
Katie Flaherty
Alexandra Olsman Frankel and Zachary Frankel
Barb and Jack Hafner
Michelle Hong and Aleksander Goranin
Joseph Kotarski and Federico Mingozzi
Steven and Kristie Lagos
Melissa Novak

Committee
Eric J. Abel, Carlin Adelson, Marta and Robert Adelson, Lindsay Furman Alexander, Sandy and Bill Annesley, Kristin Aronson, Samantha Audia and Michael Garbose, Diane Cohn Bass and Robert Bass, Richard J. Bleicher, MD, Sally C. Bleznak, Michele and Jeffrey Brotman, Julie Jensen Bryan, Annabel Buckfire, Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr., Dr. Jose and Lauren Canseco, Dunham Townend Churchill, Ralph Citino and Lawrence Taylor, Hope Cohen, Nina L. Cohen, Kelly and Larry Dalsemer, Roberta and Carl Dranoff, Barbara Eberlein and Jerry Wind, Helen Drutt English, Josh Fangel, James Fernberger and Mary Walto, Meghan and Anthony Fotopoulos, Barbara F. Freed and Alan Mittelman, Tuesday Gordon Gaines, Deborah E. Glass, Beth C. Hare, Liesl Henderson and Jordan Mersky, Daniel and Joan Hilferty, Kristen Holahan, Angela V. B. Hudson, Tac Justi, Marina Kats and The Hon. John J. Medveckis, Stephen Klein, Shonda Knox, Amy and John Korman, Neal Krouse and Karl Fong, Maribeth and Steven Lerner, Liddy Lindsay, Christina Weiss Lurie, Marcello Luzi and Gregory Seitter, Mary MacElree and David Hoffman, Louis R. Marion, Sandy and David Marshall, Thomas B. McCabe IV, Jay B. Minkoff, Alexandra and Jonathan Morgan, Georgiana and Eric Noll, Elizabeth and Jeffrey Orleans, Patricia J. Owens, Ombretta Piccirilli, Anne S. Ravert, Jennifer Rice and Michael Forman, Amelia Riley, Penelope Riley, Huldah Robertson, Anne and Bruce Robinson, Caro and Bob Rock, Marguerite Rodgers, Eileen Rosenau, Barbara Brown Ruttenberg, Cornelia Samara, Nicole Dresnin Schaeffer, Pamela Schreiber, Andrea Seltzer, Iris and Greg Shea, Lynn and Howard Shecter, Nancy and Ben Shein, Jed Silversmith, Gail Mosler Singer, Garrett Snider, Lindy Snider, Babette Snyder, Josephine and Sam Switzenbaum, Tiffany Tavarez, Brian P. Tierney, Dan Tropeano and Jaime Pludo, Alexis and Max C. Tuttleman, Megan van Arkel, Waqas Wajahat, Laurie Wightman, Jamese Newsome-Williams and Robert Williams, Jr., Randi Zemsky and Bob Lane

ART BALL DONORS AND SPONSORS

Benefactors
The Maguire Foundation
Jeanette Lerman-Neubauer and Joe Neubauer
Aileen and Brian Roberts

Underwriting Sponsors
John Alchin and Hal Marryatt
Christine and Michael Angelakis
Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz
Joan Carter and John Aglialoro
Betsy Z. and Edward E. Cohen
Julia and David Fleischner
Barb and Jack Hafner
Lisa Kabnick and John McFadden
Morgan Stanley
The Lindy Snider Foundation

Event Sponsors
AG Foundation
Bloomberg Philanthropies
Emily and Michael Cavanagh
CHANEL
Comcast NBCUniversal
Connelly Foundation
Marianne N. Dean
Michelle and Eugene Dubay
David Haas and Lisa Clark
Sarah and Chester Hall
Anne and Matt Hamilton
Christine and George Henisee
Michelle Hong and Aleksander Goranin
Marjorie and Jeffrey Honickman
Independence Blue Cross
JPMorganChase
Justi Group Inc.
Joseph Kotarski and Federico Mingozzi
Neal Krouse and Karl Fong
Sueyun Locks | Locks Gallery
Leigh and John Middleton
Leslie Miller and Richard Worley
Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan
Marsha and Jeffrey Perelman
Jennifer Rice and Michael Forman
Lyn M. Ross
Adele K. Schaeffer
Katie and Tony Schaeffer
van Beuren Charitable Foundation
Van Cleef & Arpels|
Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, GRoW @ Annenberg
Janine and Jeffrey Yass
Randi Zemsky and Bob Lane

Supporters
Dennis J. Alter
Bank of America Private Bank
Judith Broudy
Burke Family Foundation
Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr.
Comcast Spectacor Foundation
Roberta and Carl Dranoff
Nina and Louis Eni
Meghan and Anthony Fotopoulos
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center
Friends of Education
Glenmede
Mark Haskins and Rebecca Craik
Liesl Henderson and Jordan Mersky
Highmark Blue Shield
Daniel and Joan Hilferty
Sharon and Andrew Hubregsen
Marina Kats and The Hon. John J. Medveckis
LAGOS
Anne and Bruce Robinson
Caro and Bob Rock
Nancy and Ben Shein
Josephine and Sam Switzenbaum
Brenda and Larry Thompson
Robbi and Bruce Toll
Harriet and Larry Weiss

Special Thanks for In-Kind Gifts
Constellation Culinary Group
DAOU Vineyards

Listing as of September 30, 2025

EXHIBITION SPONSORS
Henri Rousseau: A Painter’s Secrets at the Barnes is sponsored by Morgan Stanley and Comcast NBCUniversal.

Key support is provided by Gwendolyn M. Asplundh, The Family of Laura Buck, and Marlene and Brian Dooner. Additional support is provided by Julie Jensen Bryan and Robert* Bryan; The Dean Family; Dietz & Watson; James Fernberger and Mary Walto; Mindy and Thaddeus Fortin; Meghan and Anthony Fotopoulos; Amy Fox and Daniel Wheeler; Deborah E. Glass; Margaret Hallenbeck; Margaret Harris and Phil Straus; Penelope P. Harris; James and Pam Hill; LAGOS; Judy and Leonard* Lauder; Robert Lehman Foundation; The Lowe, Bernbaum and Weinstein Families; Barbara A. Podell and Mark G. Singer; Stephanie Simmerman; Smukler Lasch Charitable Trust; Josephine and Sam Switzenbaum; Harriet and Larry Weiss; Kristin and Tobias Welo; and other generous individuals.

Ongoing funding for exhibitions comes from the Christine and Michael Angelakis Exhibition Fund, Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz Exhibition Fund, Lois and Julian Brodsky Exhibition Fund, Elaine W. Camarda and A. Morris Williams, Jr. Exhibition Fund, Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Christine and George Henisee Exhibition Fund, Aileen and Brian Roberts Exhibition Fund, and Tom and Margaret Lehr Whitford Exhibition Fund.

Lead support for the exhibition publication is provided by the Richard C. von Hess Foundation. Additional support is provided by the Lois and Julian Brodsky Publications Fund, Joan Garde, and Tom and Margaret Lehr Whitford.

This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities.

In addition, funding for all exhibitions comes from contributors to the Barnes Foundation Exhibition Fund:

Jill and Sheldon Bonovitz, Joan Carter and John Aglialoro, Julia and David Fleischner, Victoria McNeil Le Vine, Leigh and John Middleton, Jeanette and Joe Neubauer, Aileen and Brian Roberts

John Alchin and Hal Marryatt, Lois and Julian Brodsky, N. Judith Broudy, Emily and Michael Cavanagh, Marianne N. Dean, Eugene and Michelle Dubay, Penelope P. Harris, Jones & Wajahat Family, Lisa D. Kabnick and John H. McFadden, Victor F. Keen and Jeanne Ruddy, Marguerite Lenfest, Maribeth and Steven Lerner, Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation, Hilarie and Mitchell Morgan, Cathy and Henry Nassau, The Park Family, Wendy and Mark Rayfield, Anne and Bruce Robinson, Adele K. Schaeffer, Katie and Tony Schaeffer, Donna and Jerry Slipakoff, Dr. and Mrs. Eugene E. Stark, Joan F. Thalheimer, Bruce and Robbi Toll, van Beuren Charitable Foundation, Kirsten White, and Randi Zemsky and Bob Lane.

*posthumous recognition

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Deirdre Maher, Director of Communications
215.278.7160, press@barnesfoundation.org
Online press office: barnesfoundation.org/press