MFAH Latin American Experience Weekend 2022—Two Years. Four Days. $1.9 Million!

MFAH Latin American Experience Weekend 2022—Two Years. Four Days. $1.9 Million!

After four consecutive days, this ninth-annual biennial event culminated in successfully securing $1.9 million to support the MFAH Latin American Art Department (celebrating its 20th anniversary) and its research institute, the International Center for the Arts of the Americas, and to acquire Latin American Art for the Museum’s permanent collection. This record-breaking fundraiser included over $130,000 from the silent auction and over $1.4 million from the live auction.

Through the multiple days of events, over 150 international art collectors, gallery owners, artists, and aficionados were drawn to Houston. They were led by Mari Carmen Ramírez, Wortham Curator of Latin American Art and on Thursday, who began with a tour of the auction items guests would be able to purchase.

The second evening was highlighted with an elegant cocktail party where guests were invited to view the Latin American Galleries.  Other events included a lineup of lectures, gallery visits, private collection tours, and dinners. The 2022 Latin American Experience Weekend concluded with the Latin American Experience Gala & Auction on Saturday. Saffron, orange and palm-print linens, along with vibrant pink florals by The Events Company, greeted the more than 410 guests as they gazed at artworks displayed in the silent auction while sipping festive cocktails.

Prior to the live auction, guests assembled and took their seats in Brown Auditorium Theater, where Gary Tinterow, Director and The Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, made remarks and recognized the evening’s honoree, Rusty Wortham. With the help of auctioneer Gabriela Palmieri, the exciting live auction began and featured artworks by Latin American contemporary artists, including Ernest Neto, Carlos Cruz-Diez, and Olga de Amaral, A three-course dinner in the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building prepared by City Kitchen followed. Guests dined on a delicious salad of mixed greens, heirloom tomato, avocado, pickled radish, and cucumber with Marcona almonds and orange blossom vinaigrette, grilled filet of beef tenderloin with Malbec reduction and pan-seared sea bass with mole verde. The finale was frozen mango and coconut parfait.

Major Underwriters for this multi-event weekend were:  Marli Andrade and Alfred C. Glassell, III, Leslie and Brad Bucher, Bettie Cartwright, Sara and Bill Morgan, Judy and Charles Tate, Ignacio and María Isabel Torras. MFAH was further grateful for Underwriting assistance from Gail and Louis Adler, Amerant, Luis and Cecilia Campos, Hilda and Greg Curran, The Donson’s, Samuel F. Gorman, Fundación Gego, Celina Hellmund and León Brener-Hellmund, Cecily E. Horton, Joanne Houck and Timothy Singletary, Linda and George Kelly, Yolanda and Bill Knull and Mary and Tom Lile.

Socially present (not previously mentioned):  Jorge and Darlene Pérez, Cecily E. Horton, Rich and Nancy Kinder, Rusty and Joanna Wortham, Gail and Louis Adler, María Inés Sicardi, Arturo and Anne Barragan, Marcos and Marilyn Basso, Luis Benshimol, Martin Cerruti, Carlos Cruz Puga, Adolpho Leirner, Micheline and German Newall, Erika and John Toussaint and Merinda and Reginald Martin