{"id":7398,"date":"2025-05-22T17:01:31","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T17:01:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2025\/05\/22\/photos-the-gordon-parks-foundation-gala-2025\/"},"modified":"2025-05-22T17:01:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T17:01:38","slug":"photos-the-gordon-parks-foundation-gala-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nationalgunowner.org\/index.php\/2025\/05\/22\/photos-the-gordon-parks-foundation-gala-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"PHOTOS: The Gordon Parks Foundation Gala 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Anna Wintour. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Earlier this week, the Gordon Parks<\/a> Foundation Annual Gala returned to Cipriani 42nd Street to celebrate the indelible legacy of Gordon Parks, the trailblazing photographer whose lens captured the soul of the Black American experience. This year\u2019s gala gathered a Who\u2019s Who of photography, fashion, art and activism and honored four luminaries whose careers reflect Parks\u2019 ethos of beauty, truth and resistance: legendary model and activist Bethann Hardison<\/a><\/b>, artist Rashid Johnson<\/a><\/b>, First Lady of fashion Anna Wintour<\/a><\/b> and civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young<\/a><\/b>. One of the night\u2019s most poignant moments came when Colman Domingo<\/a><\/b>, Emmy winner and perennial awards season presence, presented Wintour with her award in what felt like a full-circle tribute to Parks\u2019 own start at Vogue in 1944.<\/p>\n

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Pastor Ernest Ledbetter<\/a>, JR<\/a>. and Ernest Ledbetter III<\/a>, whose family Parks famously documented in 1953 for a Life magazine feature on Chicago\u2019s Black church life, kicked off the gala with an invocation. But if the room felt heavy with legacy, it was also buzzing with urgency. As Peter W. Kunhardt<\/a>, Jr.<\/b>, executive director of the foundation, remarked: \u201cTonight may be the most critical gala we\u2019ve ever held. Because now, we are facing some of the strongest forces we\u2019ve ever faced, determined to prevent progress, to erase history and to silence the voices that challenge injustice. Gordon gave us clear instructions: \u2018Take what I\u2019ve built\u2014and push it forward. Take what I\u2019ve started\u2014and carry it into the future.\u2019 That future is NOW.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kunhardt also acknowledged Mikki Ferrill<\/a><\/b> and LeRoy Henderson<\/a><\/b>, two vital artists from Parks\u2019 orbit and now part of the Gordon Parks Foundation\u2019s inaugural Legacy Acquisition Fund<\/a>, an initiative that will support mid- and late-career artists whose work resonates with the photographer\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n

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Aurora James and Tyson Beckford. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Spotted rubbing shoulders with art stars like Hank Willis Thomas<\/a><\/b>, Mickalene Thomas<\/a><\/b>, Bisa Butler<\/a><\/b>, LaToya Ruby Frazier<\/a><\/b>, Kennedy Yanko<\/a><\/b>, Sheree Hovsepian<\/strong><\/a> and Foundation Art Fellows Derek Fordjour<\/a><\/b> and Scheherazade Tillet<\/a><\/b> were designer Tory Burch<\/a><\/b>, photographer Annie Leibovitz<\/a><\/b>, Super Bowler Malcolm Jenkins<\/a><\/b>, prima ballerina Misty Copeland<\/a><\/b>, TV personality Gayle King<\/a><\/b> and singer-songwriter Michael Stipe<\/a><\/b>. Aurora James<\/a><\/b> and Tyson Beckford<\/a> <\/b>were among the evening\u2019s presenters and mingled with the likes of Ari Melber<\/a><\/b>, Leslie Odom<\/a>, Jr.<\/b>, Deborah Roberts<\/a><\/b>, Jay Ellis<\/a><\/b>, Dapper Dan<\/a><\/b>, Prabal Gurung<\/a><\/b>, Breanna Stewart<\/a><\/b>, Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe<\/a><\/b> and curators Jasmine Wahi<\/a><\/b> and Legacy Russell<\/a><\/b>.<\/p>\n

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Kimberly Pirtle. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In between speeches, Andra Day<\/a><\/b> delivered a heart-wrenching rendition of \u201cGod Bless The Child\u201d and Dave Guy<\/a><\/b> of The Roots kept spirits buoyant with \u201cRuby\u2019s Rubies.\u201d Sotheby\u2019s powerhouse Kimberly Pirtle<\/a><\/strong> took the lectern midway through the evening to help raise a record $3 million via a high-octane live auction of Parks\u2019 photographs. Capping off what was an evening of substance, style and serious cultural gravitas, Day stepped back into the limelight to perform her certified quadruple platinum smash \u201cRise Up\u201d in what was, all would no doubt agree, the perfect end to a perfect party.<\/p>\n

Anna Wintour, Alexander Soros, Huma Abedin, Robin Hickman-Winfield and Annie Leibovitz<\/h3>\n
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Anna Wintour, Alexander Soros, Huma Abedin, Robin Hickman-Winfield and Annie Leibovitz. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Peter W. Kunhardt Jr. and Bethann Hardison<\/h3>\n
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Peter W. Kunhardt Jr. and Bethann Hardison. Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tory Burch<\/h3>\n
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Tory Burch. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Derek Fordjour, Sarah Arison and Sanford Biggers<\/h3>\n
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Derek Fordjour, Sarah Arison and Sanford Biggers. Photo by Udo Salters\/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Catherine Gund and Bethann Hardison<\/h3>\n
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Catherine Gund and Bethann Hardison. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Andra Day<\/h3>\n
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Andra Day. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mickalene Thomas, Gayle King, Cari Champion and Jasmine Wahi<\/h3>\n
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Mickalene Thomas, Gayle King, Cari Champion and Jasmine Wahi. Photo by Arturo Holmes\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Carolyn Young and Andrew Young<\/h3>\n
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Carolyn Young and Andrew Young. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Devin Allen<\/h3>\n
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Devin Allen. Photo by Arturo Holmes\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Michael Stipe<\/h3>\n
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Michael Stipe. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jeff Yabuki and Peter W. Kunhardt Jr.<\/h3>\n
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Jeff Yabuki and Peter W. Kunhardt Jr. hoto by Dimitrios Kambouris\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Deborah Willis and Hank Thomas<\/h3>\n
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Deborah Willis and Hank Thomas. Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LeRoy Henderson<\/h3>\n
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LeRoy Henderson. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian<\/h3>\n
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Rashid Johnson and Sheree Hovsepian. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Misty Copeland<\/h3>\n
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Misty Copeland. hoto by Johnny Nunez\/WireImage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kenneth Chenault and Kathryn Chenault<\/h3>\n
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Kenneth Chenault and Kathryn Chenault. Photo by Johnny Nunez\/WireImage<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/h3>\n
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Dynasty Ogun and Soull Ogun. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Kennedy Anko<\/h3>\n
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Kennedy Anko. Photo by Noam Galai\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Glenda Hatchett<\/h3>\n
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Glenda Hatchett. Photo by Arturo Holmes\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Tyson Beckford, Bethann Hardison and Aurora James<\/h3>\n
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Tyson Beckford, Bethann Hardison and Aurora James. Photo by Arturo Holmes\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Hannah Traore<\/h3>\n
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Hannah Traore. Photo by Randy Brooke\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Melissa Haizlip<\/h3>\n
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Melissa Haizlip. Photo by Arturo Holmes\/Getty Images for Gordon Parks Foundation<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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